WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 November 1918, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. THE LABOUR ATTACK. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Nov 1. It has been easy for people unacquainted with the circumstances to attach too much significance to the little demonstration made against the Government in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night. The fact that Mr. Hindmarsh's motion of "no confidence" was rejected by 48 votes to 12, though not quite a complete answer to Dr. Newman's subsequent criticism of the National Cabinet, showed that the great majority of the rank and file of the two principal parties are standing by the spirit iof •the "truce" as loyally as are their leaders in the House. The suggestion that they are held together by selfinterest —by a desire to prolong their political lives to the uttermost day and hour —is scarcely fair. Mr. Vigor Brown and Dr. Thacker are net the only Liberals who wish to get to the polls as early as possible. It is doubtful, indeed, if their wish is half as ardent as that of many members, both Liberal and Reform, who voted with the Government in the recent division. LABOUR TACTICS.

Just -what the Labour Party hoped to gain by tabling a motion of no-con-fidence at this stage it is impossible to say. It did not succeed even in prolonging the debate ior in attracting any desirable-attention to itself. Nor can it claim to have embarrassed its sympathisers among the members of the other parties. Mr. Poole and Mr. Witty, rightly or wrongly, already were committed to support any proposal for bringing about a dissolution, and Mr Vigor Brown and Dr. Thacker have definitely thrown off all party ties and obligation that do not suit their hum'our at the moment. But, whatever the purpose of the Labour Party may. have been in challenging the Treasury Benches, there need be no doubt about its sincerity. Its members are obsessed by the notion that only..an appeal to the electors is required to bring about their political millenium and that: meanwhile the greatest service they can render to the country is to hasten the,, happy day. , • ~,„., ~<•, . '.,- ~.,5, p.q

A CANDID FRIEND , ... Dr. Newman, whose long political experiences and sturdy independence make him one of the most effective speakers in the House, following Mr. Holland in the Address-in-Reply debate on "Wednesday, pointo;! out to the Labour members that they were deluding themselves if they imagined the successes they had achieved at the by-elections were due to the growing popularity of their creed. They had won seats, not because the number of I Labour voters had materially increas- \ ed, or increased at all, but ..because 1 the Reform and Liberal voters had be- ! come dissatisfied with the National '■ Government. The Doctor had much sympathy with the aspirations of the . Labour Party. ; Had it stood loyally by the Empire.in winning the war, and in enforcing the very principles of right and justice for which it professed to stand, he could have forgiven it all its other mistakes and wished it well. Even as it was, he could not regret the presence of capable Labour i representatives in the House and he : believed their widened outlook would ; correct many of their misconceptions, j THE NEW LORDS. The new members of the Legislat- ! ive Council had quite a field day yesterday when the Address-in-Reply debate made further leisurely progress in their august chamber. The Hon. J. ; B. Gow, the Hon. W. H. Triggs, and the Hon. A. L. Michel showed their paces to an appreciative and sympathetic House and on the whole acquitted themselves remarkably well. Mr. Gow, as was to be expected, spoke mainly of rural affairs, the needs and difficulties of the country settlers, but he spoke with knowledge and understanding. Mr. Triggs took a wider range, browsing over the whole face of the Empire, and at once impressed the Council - with his confidence, his fluency, and his choice of graceful language. His voice probably will be more often raised on the side *of prudence than on the side of daring, but, however it may be employed, it will be a distinct acquisition to the debating power of the Council. Mr. Michel is an old platform campaigner, and it is only necessary to say he was not over-awed by the strangeness of his position.