WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3528, 15 July 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ANOTHER MINISTER.

SIR R. HE.-\‘TON RHODES APPOINTED.

(Special _Correspondent.)

‘The portfolio of Defence at last has found a safe resting place in the hands of Sir R, Heatbn Rhodes, the member for Ellesmere, and for the first time for many a long year Canterbury has two r-:=presentative.< in the Cabinet, 23. fitting reward, the scofier-s are saying, for its rununciation at the last general election of thirty. years almost exclusive (le\'otiOn to Liberalism. Sir Heaton. as the new Minister will be generally known, is one of the most'deligh'tful personalities in the House and his return to the Cabinet, after his retirlnel~.t to facilitate the formation of the National Government will be viewed with general satisfaction. He is an enthusiastic” soldier, though by no means a militarist, and a most careful and conscientious administrator. GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND. . The member for Grey, whose best! friends must sometimes be grieved by! his lack of tact, is annoyed becausei the'Speaker has ruled out of- order his notice of motion referring to “the tragical situation in Ireland as a direct outcome of the denial of selfgovernment to the Irish people?" and recording “unqualified condemnation of the military occupation of Ireland.” Of ‘course the motion had it been submitted to the House would have been rejected by an overwhelming majority. not because members would deny Ireland a large measure of self-government but because they properly regard Home Rule as a domestic affair of the Mother Country in which they have no right to interfere. But Mr Holland hates being deprived of any opportunity to gibe at the things loyal people hold sacred_ I 1 NORTH V. SOUTH. - ’ _ Mr V. H. Porter, who brings to the House the loudest voice among the new members and the intention, it would seem. to make it heard far beyond the walls of the Chamber, is draw‘l'ng odious comparisons-_ between the amount of railway expenditure in’ the South Island and the amount in ‘the North Island. This, of course, is anold story, but the member for Roskill is giving it a new turn by suggesting that the North Island should be compensated for past neg-I lect by the difierence in the earnings‘ betweenthe two sections being set aside for payment of interest and sinking fund on 8. loan of nine millions required to place the northern mileage on an equality with the‘ southern. It would bea fair adjust-. ment. of the position he allegesandl few of his northern colleagues dis-sent. i