WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1916, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

A RAPID PASSAGE. THE HAPPY FAMILY. (From Our Special Correspondent). Wellington, July 14. Sir Joseph Ward's readiness to accept what he regarded as reasonable amendments in the Finance Bill ensured an easy passage for the measure through committee, and a few minutes after two o'clock this morning it was reported in its much improved form to the House. The Minister's tactful piloting of the Bill during its later stages, without the assistance of Mr. Massey and Mr. Allen, who are still kept away from the House by influenza, has made amends for the somewhat crude shape in which it was first introduced. Sir Joseph did not wait for members to quibble and haggle over the various clauses in committee, but dealt himself with the various amendments suggested during the second reading debate, accepting those he thought desirable and firmly rejecting those he could not entertain, with the result that the critics were left with little inclination and less excuse for obstruction. He indicated in those dulcet tones he invariably employs when he lias made up his mind to a set purpose that he wished the Bill to go through committee at on* sitting, and to the mild astonishment of a House which twelve hours before had expected the discussion to occupy a week, he got his way. It was a fine example of felicitous leadership. ' NATIVE LANDS. Native lands do not ,in these days occupy the attention of the House so often as they sliould, but the presentation of the annual report of the Native Lands Department yesterday afternoon gave several members an opportunity to relieve their pent-up feelings on the subject. Mr. Jennings, the member for Taumarunui, told of a transaction in the Ongarue district, where, he alleged, within the last three years a man had been allowed to acquire 13,000 acres of Maori land for purely speculative purposes, in defiance of the first principle of all the recent land legislation of the country. Mr. Hornsby reiterated his protest, against the native Minister's supineness in dealing with what he called "the Kerchoma land swindle," a transaction which affected the reputation of "a great profession and a great public department." Mr. Ell pointed to the danger lurking in the law providing for Eui'opeanising Maoris, which, he said, was more likely to be used in robbing the natives than in benefiting them. Mr. I Parata, the representative of the South|ern Maori district, framed his indictment : of the administration of the Department on more general grounds. He asserted that natives had been wrongfully removled from their lands by the late Govern!ment and that many of them had been reduced to abject poverty. The Minister's reply was not quite so reassuring as his friends would have liked it to be. He would make enquiries concerning Mr. Jennings' allegation, and he would consult the Attorney-General about tlie Kerehoma affair, but the only comfort he could offer to the House at the moment was his own belief that "fifty years hence the Maoris will have become completely merged with the pakehas, and there will be no need for different laws tor the two races" Unfortunately the Minister's remarks were cut short by the 3.30 adjournment, and he certainly should be invited to return to the subject. What he did say was calculated rather to aggravate than to allay the prevalent feeling of dissatisfaction. MINISTERIAL RELATIONS. In an article commenting upon a speech delivered by Mr. Russell at the luncheon given to the officers of the Japanese warships in Auckland, the NewZealand Times pokes more or less pointed fun at the Minister for Internal Afr fairs for having told the country's distinguished guests of the harmony prevailing among the members of the National Cabinet. Perhaps the subject is not one of any great public interest, the average person taking it for granted that both the Liberal and the Reform Ministers are observing the compact with which they entered the Cabinet; but some people are industriously spreading stories of Ministerial dissensions which are as unfair to the gentlemen immediately concerned as they are discreditable to their authors. There arc differences of opinion in the Cabinet, of coursevery marked differences —and the prospect of a permanent coalition between Liberals and Reformers is even more remote than it was when they were strenously lighting the Bay of Islands and Taumarunui second elections. But the purpose for which the two parties joined forces is just as urgent to-day as it was a year ago, and Ministers, recognising this fact, are scrupulously observing the spirit of the past truce. This, of course, involves the sacrifice of ''principles" on both sides, and the Finance Bill in its first crude shape was a very good example of the kind of legislation such compromises must produce. Sir Joseph Ward, even if the parties had not been equally divided in ihe Cabinet, would not have been justified in seizing the opportunity to promote purely Liberal taxation. His obvious duty was to lake the line of least resistance—to get the money lie wanted in a plain businesslike way without favoring the "views" of one side or the other—and that is exactly what he did. To talk of a Minister resigning during a crisis like this simply because lie cannot get all liis own

is to talk unpatriotic,nonsense. Perhaps loyal self-restraint rather than harmony is the term Mr. Russell should have employed, but the occasion was not one on which he was required to make any academic distinction between cause and effect. CHEAP WIiEAT. Although the Prime Minister is still prevented' by illness from taking his place in the House, he was able to attach his name to some of the written replies to questions given in the House yesterday afternoon. One of these was to the effect that he was in communication with the Acting-Prime Minister of the Comomnwealth in regard to a cablegram received from .Sydney last week stating that while the price of wheat for expjort had been fixed in New South Wale 9at as iy 2 d the price of wheat for the manufacture of export flour had been fixed at 4s 10% d, f.o.b. It would be interesting to know the nature of Mr. Massey's communication with the Commonwealth authorities. The first interim report of the Board of Trade showed beyond all possible doubt that the Prime Minister's attempt to regulate the price of wheat in this country was a most deplorable fiasco, resulting in a cool £300,000 or £400.000 being taken out of the pockets of the consumers by a little group of speculators. As much as this may be said without reflecting upon the honesty of his intentions or upon his capacity as a politician; but if he should now Undertake to regulate the price of wheat coming from Australia he will deserve much more 3cathing criticism than any directed against him in connection with his previous deals. The N T ew Zealand grower, who in nine cases out of ten passes his advantage on to the miller and speculator, is already protected through the Customs tariff to the extent of nearly Od a bushel, and to raise a further barrier against cheaper wheat would be a positive crime against the wage-workers of the Dominion.