WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 19 July 1916, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

A REBUKE TO LABOUR.

THE COURSE OF BUSINESS.

(Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 17

The monotony of the debate on the third reading of the Finance Bill was relieved on Friday night by a vigorous speech by Mr. Isitt, in which the representative of Christehurch North, speaking in sorrow rather than in anger, soundly rated certain members of the Labour Party for their persistent assumption of a superior, air which claimed all th e political virtues for themselves and attributed all the poli-

tical vices to those who would not subscribe to every plank in their platform. The whole speech did not occupy more than six or seven minutes in delivery, including a couple of minutes taken up by Mr McC'ombs in an attempt to stay the speaker's flow of indignant eloquence, but it was punctuated with very emphatic "hear, diears" from both sides of the House and was followed by a murmur of approval more significant than applause, which obviously was .intended to convey to Mr. Islitt that he had said exactly what was in the heart of a great majority of the members. The incident was a matter

of very general comment during the supper adjournment, which it immediately preceded, and both members and regular occupants of the galleries agreed that the protest was timely and tactful, free from extravagance and exaggeration, and not unlikely to set some of the gentlemen for whom it was ! specially intended thinking seriously 'about the revision of their methods. THE LABOUR PARTY. Mr. Isitt did not apply any of his harder terms to the members of the Labour Party in the House. That, of course, would have been out of order, even if he had wished to do so, and would have .brought him into conflict with the Speaker. But there can be no doubt that the wild doctrines beingpreached by certain irresponsible people outside are very gravely prejudicing the position and influence of the party in Parliament. As a result of .recent developments, Mr. Veitch and Mr Hindmarsh, two of the most progressive and capable members of the

Party, have been driven into closer and closer relations with the Librals and are now regarded for all practical purposes as members of the more progressive wing of the older organisation. Probably Mr Walker would not be altogether disinclined to follow them, but he is bound by the same election pledges as Mr McCombs and Mr

Webb are, and these two gentlemen are not likely to allow him to forget the fact. Mr Payne owes allegiance to no party. He is an Independent pare and simple, pledged to neither Labour nor Liberalism, and commissioned only to give vested interests, monopoly and proprietary banking a bad time. Mr. McCombs is the stormy petrel of the group, and no on e question the zeal and ability with which he fills the role; but lie has an unhappy habit of saying the nastiest things in the nastiest possible way, and a proclivity of this sort does not help any young politician on his way to successful leadership. THE REMAINING BUSINESS. No on e outside the Cabinet can make any useful guess as to what further business the Government intend to bring forward during the remainder of the session, and the twelve gentlemen in the Cabinet are showing no disposition to give the ca'siial inquirer any guidance on this point. Mr. Massey and Mr Allen have been laid up with inHousc has been making very good profluenza for eight or ten days, but the gress during thicr absence, and SM Joseph Ward still has several measures on hand with which he can keep it occupied.- Cabinet meetings are being held today, however, with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence in attenrance, and some announcement, as to the course of business may be expected when the House resumes to-mor-row night if Mr Massey is able to b-? in his place. In the meantime, speculation as to the duration of the Session vary from a fortnight to six weeks, the optimists being at one end and the pessimists at the other, but really there is no date on which any confident prophecy can be based. The War Regulations Bill, which will probably be at the top of the Order Paper to-morrow has assumed a new importance since the Parliamentary Committee recommended the petitions pnaying for the six o'clock closing of public bars to the favourable consideration of the House, and it would not be surprising

if this measure made slow progress

through both Chambers. Mr Massey hinted the other day at another batch of bills to be introduced, but without taking any new business into account it is easy enough to see work ahead sufficient to occupy a full month, and unless there is to be a very unseemly scramble at the end members will not be released till the middle of next month. FINANCE AND TAXATION. Sir Joseph Ward has had so many compliments rained upon him in connection with his tactful piloting- of the Finance Bill through the House that he may be in some danger of forgetting as well as forgiving the legitimate criticism directed against his proposals. The Bill was very materially improved in committee by amendments introduced by the Minister himself, and by the time it reached its third reading it deserved most of the appreciative things said of it by Dr. Newman and other recognised financial authorities outside the Cabinet. But Sir Joseph must not run away with the idea that it represents the last word on wan finance or that the country will be content to accept rough and ready methods of raising money, such as "flat" incom e tax, as good enough for a time of great national crisis. If 'the extreme section of the Labour :Party had been less vehement in it.--, criticism and more precise it would shared the credit that is now going to Mr Wilford, Mr Sidey, Mr Isitt, Mr Witty, Mr Anstey, Mr P. W. Smith, Air Craigie, Mr, Talbot, and progressive Liberals of their type, who exerted themselves to help the Minister with timely suggestions, not to embarrass him with impossible proposals. Th e member for Timaru, who scrupulously observes the good rule of speaking only when he has something to saj r , got an attentive hearing fori a Stats Bank, for an increased graduated land tax, and for. a revision of the whole system of raising revenue, while the ■'xtremfet.;' delivered (their thunder on the same subjects to almost t nipty benches.