WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1916, Page 10

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

' PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. THE COAL FAMINE. fSpecial Correspondent.) Wellington, July 12. The presentation of the annual report upon the public buildings of the Dominion opened the flood-gates yesterday afternoon to a desultory discussion in the House on public buildings in general and the parliamentary buildings in particular, which blocked the way of the Finance Bill for a couple of hours. After Mr. Ell had reiterated his complaints about the buildings in Christchureh, and Mr. Craigie had demanded a new post office for Timaru, Mr. Anderson protested against members being herded year after year in the insanitary chamber they were now occupying while the new parliamentary buildings were proceeding at less than a snail's pace. Mere local grievances were speedily discounted in face of this national scandal. The denunciations of the methods of the Publie Works Department were so "frequent and free' 1 that Mr. Statliam was constrained to raise his voice against ''the political attacks being made upon the Minister' and was promptly reminded bj Mr. Isitt that no attack was being made upon Mr. Fraser. "Were it not for the well-deserved popularity of the Minister," rapped out the member for Christchureh North, "a great many hard things might be said about the administration of his Department; but we arc not saying them. We are protesting against this 'Govefnment stroKc' yv ; iieli is making us the laughing stoclc of the whole community." The Minister's explanation was along the lines of previous explanations. The contractors had been disappointed in the supply of marble, through no fault of their own, and the delay was unavoidable;

FIXAXCG BILL. Sir Joseph Ward is being 1 as good is Ills word in employing 110 "driving" tactics in getting tho Finance Bill through the House. In the absence of Mr. Massey and several of his other colleagues through the prevalent influenza —which many members, by the way, attribute to the insanitary condition of the chain■her—Sir Joseph has the front Treasury benches practically to himself, where he sits a s a veritable monument of patience and endurance. By way of saiing time lie gives member s information concern ing his Bill as the debate proceeds, but he shows no disposition to stay the course of criticism nor to discourage the ofl'er a of suggestions. The flat o per cent, added to the income tax, in defiance, it would seem, of the accepted principle of graduation, is still regarded by many members as the chief defect in the Minister's proposals, but here and there strong exception is taken to the substitution of debentures in place of cash in the compulsory acquisition of land. Mr. Xosworthy emphasised this point in one of the most lugubrious speeches that have yet been delivered in the debate. The member for Ashburton, taking the pessimistic view that world-wide depression would follow upon the conclusion of the war. implied that financial stringency amounting almost to bankruptcy would- be the country's reward for its heroic sacrifices. Happily the suosequent speakers were in a les= .inlefnl mood and the Minister was able to asfciire the House the prospect was not unite so gloomy as i( | had been painted.

COAL iUPPLY. Deputations from the West C-oast are usually regarded by the old hands about the House as a sign of the early appearance of the Public Works Estimates, but the members of the deputation from Westport which waited upon the Minister of Mines yesterday indignantly resent the suggestion that there is any connection between their visit to Wellington and what is colloquially known as the annual distribution of loaves and fishes. They maintain, indeed, that their purpose in seeing Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald, who made a most favorable impression upon the good people of the West Coast during his run through their district during the recess, was to put him in the way of relieving the coal famine that is threatening the country. It seems that when the late Government stopped operations at the Seddonvilie Slate mine and transferred its activities to Point Elizabeth, it abandoned many thousands of tons of coal actually in sight, to open up -jountry which bait not been sulliciently explored, and which already is visibly failing in its supplies. Pub briefly, according to the members of the Westport deputation, who at least speak with the advantage of local knowledge, the coal famine is largely due to the late Government having been in too much baste to improve upon the dispositions of the previous Government. The Minister courteously refused to be drawn 011 the subject, but he admits there is plenty of coal at Seddonville, certainly a million tons, and probably two millions, and hints at the possibility of work being resumed there, fn the meantime fuel is being doled out by the retailers in hundredweight lots nt prices that have not been known for many a long year.

LEGISLATIVE BEFORM. The resolution adopted at a meeting field under Die auspices . of the new "Labor I'arty the other night, protesting against the proposal to prolong the life of the present Parliament in the event of the war continuing beyond the present year has set people talking afresh about the understanding between the parties in this respect. Members of the House, speaking generally, are inclined to look with some tolerance upon any scheme for postponing their apuearance before their constituents, and some of them are urging, with a good deal of reason, that it will be quite impossible fcr a general election to take place while the necessity for a National Cabinet remains. liut the Labor Party are untramelled by any understanding between the other parties and some of its members outside the House are declaring it would be a grievous wrong to the electors and a disaster to the country to prolong the life of Parliament bovond the statutory term. Among other tilings

this courso would invoke the further suspension of the Legislative Council Aot, providing for the first election of Councillors next year , ami it is feared in some quarters this might result in the abandonment of the elective principle altogether and the restoration of the present nominative system. All that can lie got out of the Ministers to-day is that they are considering the matter and will submit proposals to Parliament before the conclusion of the session, l'or this pious resolution they need be given no vast amount of credit. Whether they consider the matter or not—and it must be confessed they occasionally do things without consideration—the whole business must be settled before members are sent to their homes.