WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, 24 October 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

the impending end. WELLINGTON, Oct 22. Mr Mass?!/ is confident of bringing the session to a close by the end of this week or, at by Monday or Tuesdajy-of next week. Just how he is going to accomplish this, only those who have witnessed many similiar performances can conjecture. Though the session has now run into nearly four months and has been peculiarly free from time-wasting demonstrations there ,still is enough business in sight to keep Parliament sitting till Christmas. The, Liquor Bill is hung up by a disagreement between the two Houses, the Social Hygiene Bill is buried under an avalanche of protest and objection, yet another War Regulation Bill is on the stocks the Supplementary Estimates have to be passed, the report of the Cost of Living Committee has to be further considered and that of the Meat Trust Committee has to be presented. But in spite of all these and of many other matters demanding the serious and deliberate attention of Parliament, if Mr Massey and his colleagues make up their minds to ring down the curtain within the next few da£§,nothing can prevent them having their way. THE LIQUOR BILL.

The disagreement between the two '?i©uses over the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill is causing the friends of the measure some little anxiety. The point in dispute concerns the supply of liquor with meals, the Councu holding that only boarders should enjoy this privilege, and the House contending that it should be extended to all customers. If the House is firm ; a s it probably will be, it will get its way, as the only alternative to an agreement is the abandonment of the Bill, which would mean the retention of the old hours and the loss of such advantages as the majority in the Council expects from six o’clock closing. The rumour that several members of the House are repenting of the hasty support they gave to' Mr Massey’s .unexpected amendment, ■ per-i sists, but ton the othep - hand, :cne :of ■ two members who opposed v* .or ment are-now- urging that the earlier hour of I closing • should W he r enforced just as strictly as was the later hour. Otherwise, they say, the consumption . of a biscuit would entitle every thirsty soul to a drink_ COST OF LIVING. The general expectation is that the drastic proposals of the Cost of Living Committee will provide the Gov■ernm«jrwith an excuse for doing ■lothing" this session towards the restriction of retail prices. Had the ■Committee contented itself with refcommending the appointment of a ■ood controller with authority to fix she prices of certain specified commo; fcties perhaps the Prime Minister Brould have overcome his antipathy to ■State interference with trade, and wossibly the Minister of ■reed of the fear of demands being ■nade upon the Treasury, would have Become^reconciled to the less hazardous experiment. But it is obvious ■hat neither Mr Massey nor Sir JoBeph Ward would be very favourably Bisposod towards any scheme that Bhreatened to their minislerial prerogatives. They both have Befused to give the Board of Trade ■aore than advisory powers, and that Body is at least as well qualified as B,ny food controller coming new to ■he work could be to'regulate prices. KEW ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. ■ One effect of the heart-to-heart talk Between the party leaders and their Supporters has been to put the idea of Bn early general election out of the Blinds of Ministers. When the rank Bnd file of the House were showing a Bisposition early in the month to kick Bver the traces Mr Massey told them Bn his preparations were in train for Bppealing to the constituencies at Bnce; hut in reply to a question put B> him on Friday by Mr Hudson he any legislation required in conBectidn with the new boundaries Bould he very well left over till next Ission In the ordinary course, the Section would have taken place this Hear, but now it seems probable from lie attitude of Ministers and from lhat one hears in the lobbies that if lie war should he still dragging on ■hen Parliament meets next June a loposal for a still further postponeHent will he made. Not even the ■abour members would be anxious to l> to the polls while the war was diverting all attention from domestic ■fairs. va~' —:— ~