WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1917, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SECOND DIVISION. TENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES. By Wire. —Our Parliamentary Reporter. Wellington, Sept. 14. Communications coining from the ju'ovincial organisation of the Second Division League have stirred the central executive into activity, ami Minister.-; and private members of Parliament are now being made aware of the fact. There is a feeling abroad, provoked mainly by Sir James Allen's reticence oil the subject, that the Government is going to meet the league's demands a good deal Jess than half way, ayl that an attempt will be made to hold over the final decision till after the session. This, however, will be strongly .resisted by a majority of the members, who have taken alarm at Sir James' attitude, and are disinclined to surrender any of their constitutional rights to tlie Ministry, A DETERMINED FRONT. As much as this was made plain by the debate oil the second reading of ilie lix> petitionary Forces Amendment Bill in the House last night. This measure, of course, had nothing to do with pensions and allowances, its principal purpose being to exempt clergy of all denominations from compulsory military service but it gave members an opportunity to air tlieir views 011 the subject nearer their hearts. Mr. 11. Poland, the member for Ohincnuu'i. whrme candour certainly is not restrained by any prospects he may have of succeeding to the vacant seat in the Cabinet, delivered himself of a scathing indictment of the Government for its delay in dealing with the demands of the Second Division, and announced his readiness to remain in Wellington till after Christmas if such a penance were necessary to ensure justice being done. A GENERAL ELECTION. When the Parliamentary Represents lion Adjustment Bill, which is intended to provide machinery for members of the Expeditionary Forces recording tlieir votes at the next general election, was in committee in the House last night. Mr. Veitch, whose genuine desire to test the feelings of the constituencies no one doubts, proposed an amendment to the measure with the object of bringing about a general election during the present year. The Prime Minister, taking up the same attitude as he did towards Mr. Witty's Bill, which proposed a shorter cut to a general election, raised the point that 110 privafe member could introduce an amendment of this description. il involvinf an appropriation, and he was again quite constitutionally upheld by the Speaker. Mr. Mas ; ey undertook. however, if a majority of members formally signified their wish to have a general election, he would do his best to bring one about.

THE PROSPECT. It would he difficult to discover ills! how private members of the House f towards the idea of holding n genera' election this year. In tin l lobbies there rertainly is a majority favorable to an appeal to the constituencies forthwith. They declare the electors are dissatisfied with the Nation:-.] Government, which, they say. makes for neither ctilciency nor economy, and that they would be glad to see it replaced by an Administration more fully representative of the views of the mass of the people. Bui. there are not a dozen members who wil! definitely commit themselves to voting for a dissolution this year. Ministers, on the other hand, state qitite frankly that on persona] grounds they would not be at all averse to an early election. They believe it would send (hem hack lo Parliament stronger lhan ever, and with an extended lease of life that would relieve them of all parly anxieties. r7~*- 1 - _■