WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3517, 1 July 1920, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

PARLIAMENTARY TACTICS. PLAYING FOR POSITION. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, June 30. Mr Holland's obvious purpose in intercepting the Impress Supply Bill yesterday with a "want of confidence" motion was to embarrass the Liberal Party and to magnify himself in the eyes of the country. The first, he succeeded in doing, to some extent. The .Liberals of these days are not disciplined as were those of Mr Seddon's time, nor as the Reformers always have been. The Labour leader's little surprise, which should have been no surprise at all. found them differing widely as to the more politic course of procedure. There was no time for consultation and in the end they divi<L ed themselves into- three sections, one walking out of the House, another voting for the motion and a third going into the lobby with Mr Massey and his big battalion. The Independents all found their way into the'Government lobby, Colonel Mitchell alone, apparently, experiencing any difficulty in making a choice, but to-day they are louder than ever in protesting their freedom from party ties. THE NEXT MOVE.

There is now some speculation as to how Mr MacDonald's and Mr Stratham 's motions will fare. Of course, neither of them will be carried. That is quite out of the question. But it will be interesting to see how Official Labour bears itself in the impending divisions. Mr Holland and his friends are no better disposed towards the Liberal Opposition than they are towards the Reform Government, and it would not be very astonishing if in retaliation for what happened yesterday they voted with Mr Massey when his occupancy of the Treasury benches is next challenged. Mr Stratham's proposal, however, will place them in a more difficult position as it embodies a principle they have endorsed themselves and is not merely an attack upon the Government. The belief that the elective executive would prove a remedy for all the country's lgislative and administrative ills is less prevalent to-day than it was a few years ago, but Labour still clings to it with the conservative faith which so often leads it far from the democratic ideal. THE BURNING QUESTION. It is understood, that Mr MacDonald's indictment of the Government, like that of Mr Holland, will be based mainly upon its failure to discharge its promises concerning electoral reform. There was no mention of this subject in the. Governor-General's speech and it seems a fair assurnpipn on the part of the deader of the tberal Opposition andjpie chairman : the Official Labour Party, that Mr 'assey has no intention of dealing ith it during the life ||||v'the present arliament. This leave; ihera with a !ry real grievance, waßi might have >en aired quite propfiijf at an opirtun|: time, but whHffi the presit time is an opporturßpne or not is question on which thjHpt room for vo hjj6,est opinions. '''at© fact that ie GHernment holds ©Be by the will f lw more than fafWyhs of the leetJill has to he adHKfed, but all he ||Hies ■ are,more or Hi'responsible or .fIH anomalous staMiof affairs.