WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1916, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

LEGISLATIVE LETHARGY. STATE CONTROL. (From Our Special Correspondent). Wellington, July 26. One of the less admirable effects of tlio party trtice and the existence of a National Cabinet is a marked decline in the activity and vigilance of the private member of Parliament. There are exceptions to the general rule, of course, but J;he average number seems to have fallen into a state of listless apathy which at times borders Very closely on culpable negligence. The accepted explanation of tliinstate of things is tliat tlio discussion that matters has been re moved from the floor of the House to the Cabinet room. When twelve Ministers haye settled their differences by compromise, by the toss of a coin or by whatever >the£ njeans they may employ, and vote with a single voice, Irrespective of party traditions and party prejudices, the private member, without organisation and without leadership, is reduced to the status of a mere automaton He may talk to Hansard for the sake of himself, but lie talks without hope of moving the corporate ministerial mind by . even as much as a hair's-breadth. The position is made none the less unsatisfactory from the outsider's point of view "by tjie fact that the National Cabinet itself is controlled by three ov four men.

PRICE OF .MEAT. ■Speaking in the House last night, the Prime Minister, who has not yet thrown off the effects of his recent severe illncss, said lie hoped to have an Opportunity in the very near future to look into the London meat trade on the spot. He was replying to some remarks riiade by Mr. Witty and Mr. Pearce concerning the commandeering of New Zealand's meat on account of the Imperial authorities and admitted he was not altogether satisfied 'with the arrangements made by the British Board of Trade. The member for Patea had protested against New Zealand mutton and lamb, vastly superior products, being sold in London in the open market at lower prices than were quoted for South American meat, and Mr. Witty had declared that owing to the lack of proper arrangements at this end local consumers were paying substantially higher prices than they should be paying, without conferring the slightest benefit upon the farmers. Mr, Nosworthy's contribution to the discussion was an assertion that the brewing monopoly in 'New Zealand was as nothing with the meat monopoly at Home. Mr. Massey promised to look Snto these matters while lie was in London and left the House ivith the impression that he 'Would be setting out on his travels within a few weeks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. Tlie Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill did not get through the Upper House without provoking vigorous protests from the few progressive spirits remaining in the nominated chamber, but it is likely to encounter still stronger opposition in the representative brand) of the Legislature. The measure seeks to keep the jiominative system alive till January 1, 1020—more than two years after the first election would have been held under (he original Act—and to secure councillors appointed between now and then in their seats till January 1, 1024. It is understood, on the very best authority, that during the interval appointments aie to be made "turn and turn about" by the party leaders? but as the -Reformers will start off with a majority of nine or ten, without taking the life members into account at all, it is difficult to believe the Liberals in the House will consent to this arrangement. The election of councillors which in the ordinary course would have heen heldinext year, simultaneously with the election of members of the House, is to be abandoned, and from this the lobby gossips are assuming that the life of the present Parliament is to be prolonged without waiting for further developments in ronnection with the war.

THE LIQUOR iPROBLEM The discussion of six o'clock closing lms wandered into devious channels, leading to nowhere in particular, but it ■has disclosed the fact that the "Trade'' would not be disinclined to consider "a reasonable proposal" for the nationalisation of the liquor traffic. The matter has not been discussed in any official way, and the organised prohibitionists are known to be bitterly opposed to everything in the shape of State control, but both sides have realised how imtch easier it would have been to dea! with the early closing 'problem if the proprietary interest had been eliminated from the* traffic. Naturally the proprietors of the 'hotels having paid, as they contend, for certain privileges, arc not disposed to surrender these privilege.", without adequate compensation. Just as naturally, though perhaps not quite so logically, the prohibitionists argue that the issue of a license docs not deprive the State of its right to regulate the traffic in the public interest. The controversy between the parties is not going to affect the early closing one way or the other, and thf difficulty always will he to get them to agree to a basis of negotiation, but the "Trade," by announcing its readiness to consider a proposal for State control has probably scored with the casual observer, who still retains hir faith in regulation and looks upon this as a business question' rather than as an ethical one.