WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1917, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

STATE SOCIALISM. SIGNS OF THE TIMES. (Parliamentary Correspondent). Wellington, July IS. Sir Walter Buchanan, still the sturdy, enterprising, practical man of affairs, is -being made the butt of many a goodhumored jest as the result of his advocacy of State-owned ships at the recent conference of the Council of Agriculture. For long years of political activity Sir Walter was a consistent and uncompromising opponent of State Socialism in every shape and form—-old-age pensions, cheap money, land acquisition. State coal mines and everything else that admitted the advantage of collective effort—but now he is definitely and irrevocably committed to a beginning with the further nationalisation of the transport service. He would have the Government acquire two steamers for carrying the farmers' .produce away and he would use them to frustrate the machinations of the particular form of individualism that finds its expression in the operations of the shipping rings. THE NEW VIEW.

But of course Sir Walter Buchanan is not peculiar in the renunciation of views which have not fitted themselves to the new conditions created by the war. The progressive outlook is no longer the monopoly of irresponsible Labor or impracticable Socialism and in Parliament to-day members who three years ago were regarded as the embodiment oi all that was reactionary in public life are .propounding the very doctrines they vigorously denounced 'before the great national crisis hud compelled them to change their point of view. The tendency is even more marked in the Legislative Council than it is in the House of Representatives where there still are one or two (members, like the chosen of Patca, who cling to the old traditions with pathetic fidelity ajicjl iack of understanding. CANDID FRIENDS. The debate on the Addross-in-Reply in the House of Representatives is proving a much brighter and more interesting prelude to the serious business of Parliament tiiis session than it has don» for many years past. The speeches have been far above the average, both in matter and in manner, and the unrevised "Hansard" reports should make excellent reading for people who have not heen privileged to hear them. Yesterday afternoon and evening saw no falling off in the quality of the entertainment 'provided by a number of candid friends of the Government for the full Hom:.» and crowded galleries. Mr. Craigie, the member for Timam, filled up the greater part of his hour with a very frank and admirable criticism of the Government's £ins of omission and Mr. G. .). Anderson followed in si similar strain addressing himself chiefly to shortcomings in the administration of the Defence department.

STANDING BY HIS OFFICERS. The member for Manawatu, speaking more in sorrow than, in anger, and certainly with neither persc/ial nor party bias against the Minister, took Sir James Allen severely to task for his "excessive loyalty" to the officers of his Department. "The Minister should go among his officers," he said, "find out those he could trust and then shoot the others out." This is advice which as been offered to Sir James agabi and again, both in private and in public, by political friends and by political opponents, but the Minister stands firmly by his ollicers, and so far from "shooting them out," takes upon himself blame for their mistakes and failures. Of course this is a very appealing example of loyalty, but the loyalty is not always worthily expended and incompetent officers are building up a peck of trouble for the Minister.

A TRIBUTE TO MINISTERS. Mr. L. M. Isitt's contribution to yesterday's debate was one of the most brilliant of his many brilliant, efforts in the House. His reference to the liquor question were along the familiar lines, but the familiar lines were illuminated by a wealtii of eloquence rarely heard in any assembly and by a tribute to Ministers in general and to the Hon.' A. M. Myers in particular which in the circumstances is worth placing on record. He had made a very strong attack on the liquor trade, he said, but there had been no personal allegation in his words as far as Ministers were concerned. It was his conviction that the Minister of Munitions, wdiom he had 1 watched very closely, had never abused his position or exercised undue influence in defence of the business he was associated with. In his peroration Mr. Isitt reached heights of picturesque expression to which the verbatim report alone can do justice.