WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MORE QANDID CRITICISM. StRDM JJOTH SIDES. ft I (Parliamentary Correspondent). Wellington, July 21. Tihe feature of the resumed debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House yesterday was the cheery candor of the speakers. Mr. McCallum, who in these times of stress takes a .severely practical vietw of the various problems confronting Parliament, after complimenting Sir James Allen upon the manner In which h 8 had conducted the affairs of the country during the absence of the pavty leaders, proceeded in his characteristic way to rap out a number of home truths which went directly to the heart of things. He deprecated the growing tendency to excuse men from military service on the iplea they were required jn local industries. It was evident, he eaid, the Home authorities wanted men more than they wanted food. Turning quickly from one subject to another, Mr. McCallum thought a mistake had been made in dealing with Mr. P. Webb. Either the member for Grey was guilty of the offence with which he was charged or he was innocent and the authorities should not have sought a half way house, as it ivrere, as a compromise between the two extremes.

EARLY CLOSING. Mr. McCallum has clear cut views of his own on the early closing question, but in this matter he would not be opposed to a compromise. He would have the Government deal with this question as 'it did with the racing question, confer :with the licensed victuallers and ascertain how fax they would assist in the 'work of reform. Of course the suggestion was received with derisive laughter in a House that is about equally divided between six o'clock and some later hour, but it represents in the rough the feeling of a large number of members. Mr. Statham, the member for Dunedin Central, an earnest, honest young man, who is always embarrassed ,by philosophic doubts, is standing out for compensation in the event of any departure from the existing contract between the Trade and the State, and between all the conflicting views expressed during the debate it seems likely that eight o'clock will be fixed as the closing hour without any concession to the publicans for the trade they will lose.

PUBLIC WORKS. Incidentally, in replying to a dentation from Otago that waited upon him yesterday to urge tlie needs of the southern province in the way of roads and bridges, the Minister of Public Works again mentioned the long deferred reform of the local government system which has been a standing jest among the critics of successive Ministers (luring the last thirty years. The question. Mr. Fraser, promised, would lie kept steadily in view and would receive earnest attention after the war. On the main question of public works the Minister told the deputation frankly that neither money nor labor was available for a Bchemo of any magnitude. The expenditure would be even smaller this year than it was last year and there could be no increase till peace was concluded. Representations made from Auckland in this respect point to the fact that while the Government is spending thousands of pounds in acquiring land for the settlement of soldiers there is a vast area of Crown land in the far north specially well suited for this purpose that would be made availablo by the expenditure of half the money on roads.

WHAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT LACKS. The memiber for Dunedin Central voiced in the House last night) an opinion which 'has 'been freely expressed in the lobbies and readily echoed in the country. The National Government, 'Mr. Statbam saSi, ftas suffered from the lack of a strong and solid Opposition. A year JUJO a Btatement of this kind would have been regarded as an unpardonable offence against the letter and the spirit of the party truee. To-day it is being applauded as a manifestation of the truest loyalty to the truce and to the purposes it was intended to serve. The absence of in organised Opposition has Bet free a vast amount of irresponsible and uninstrufited criticism whifch initead of being a help to the Cabinet and the House has been a hindrance to 'both. Such an Opposition a/s would observe the conditions of the party truce would 'be a bold experiment in constitutional government, but members of very different political creeds have signified their agreemnt with Mr. ©t&tham and it iB possible nn attempt may be nua.de to fill this "long-felt want" during tlhe present session.