WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 September 1919, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

HIS MAJESTY ’S OPPOSITION. STATEMENT BY SIR JOSJ-I.i’.H WARD. gfspcciaf COl-1-éspondont.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. The statement made by Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives on Friday afternoon, concerning the intentions of the Liberal Pmty set the fears of the timid friends of the Government at rest. The Prime Minister gave the Leader of the Opposition his -opportunity to make his position clear by replying to a question tlmt, “unless the business of the House is brought to an end suddenly, as is quite possible,” he would be very glad “to give a day for the discussion of the report of the -Industries Cominitt-ee.” Sir Jloseph W:ll'd is too much alive in these days ‘to let such a chance to set himself rightwith the public pass unheaded. “As far as I know,” he retorted promptly, “this session is not likely to come to apl‘eeipitute end. . . .

I do not intend to allow what I believe to be the best interests of this country to be }ll'ojudicéll by any consideration for individuals,~and as far as‘ this party is concerned We are prcparecl to help in every possible wy in facilil tating the business of the country.” Mr Mllssc_y' very cordially welcomed lhe good 11<3\\-s from the other side of the House. A ]’RI‘ICARIOUS POSITION. On paper, at any rate, the position of the Govel'llmonE faced by an actively hostile Opposition, would be an extremely ]H'(‘('.{il‘lOUS one. The loss of the Tm'an:ll;i seat by the Reformcrs has left the part"les, or rathev: the supporters and the opponents of the Govcern mvnt equally balanced, unless Ml‘ Urn, vxlao has. snccemled Ml’ Pamt.'z in the occupimrey of’ the Soutliern Maori seat. can be trusted to assert his independence by turning the trembling scale in

favour of Mr Massey_ But Sir Josephf Ward’s statements makes considera-: tions of this kind of less consequence‘ than nervous Reformers thought them a 5 week ago, and if Mr‘ Massey reeipro.-i enaies by playing the game on his side, as he doubtless will, the necessary Wol‘k of the session should be completed: within a. couple of months, and thei real party fighting reserved for the; election campaign. The “Dominion”! wele-omes the amicable understamling,% between the party leaders with fra.nk§ satisfaction, but the “Post” has; not yet brought itself to say the generous thing, while the “Times,” of; course, can. say, “we told you so.” NATIONALISATION. 3 The report of the Parliamentary. In-i dustries C~ommittee has been Well re-ii eeived everywliere, and has given at distinct fillip to the nationalisation: sentiment that is abroad just now. For } some reason or other, Wellingtoni householders have suflfered more acutely I than other centres have from the coal fizmrine, -zrutl even ho.-day’ there are; many of them. with-out an ounce of} coal on their premises. Naturally they} are in a trzune of mind to’ see the re-I .<-onmiemlntions of the Committee for 9. larger measure of nationalisation than that recommended bythe Board of; Trade in its coal report some guarantee i ngrtaiiist a recurrence of their troubles‘ .:le.\:t \\‘illtel'. Then Wellington is theehief suil"'erer from the vag-aries of the Ferry service. Again and again during the last year or two, for weeks together. it has not been sure of its com-' '.n'.lnie:ltiun r-fiili the South T.~'lazl<.l, and the eml.<c-qn(mt ineonvenienue and loss have :'eeonu=iled many of its t'Ormer op]n=‘.leilis to the idea of St:lte—ownod .<f_:.-amel‘s. 'l‘he <::api‘:‘al City, in t'-net. is 3;: e n:xtimlzll.iSing humour. N l-}\\' M lN]l.‘S'l‘lCl{F. Mr Massey seems to have come :'h*'C:lfsli the Betorni caucus with flying enlonrs. Those of his supporters who were demanding the resignation of Sir .l'a,mes Allen, Sir VVilliam Fraser, and Mr Herries, were met with courteous_,F but very firm 1-efiisals. and/. to all appearances, promptly dropped into line. The matter may be mentioned again

later on; but for the present all is peace and harmony in the c.a.mp_ Attention is now being directed to the appointment of three new Ministers to assist Mr Massey and his colleagues in bearing the burdens Laid down by the I.ibel-nl members of the Cabinet. For a day or two there was talk of one of the “Same” Labour members having been induced to take oflfice, but at present the "‘ti;ss” are {Mr R. ’.E{. Rhodes, Mr J. B. Coates, Mr J. B_ Hine, Mr Edward Newman, Mr Downic Stewart, and Mr \V. Nosworthy, and these gentlemen are “favourites” in this order. Mr Downie Stewart would be a. certainty but for his poor health and for his own diflidence about taking office.