WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1917, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE IMPENDING' END. RINGING- 'DOWN THE CURTAIN. (Special Correspondent), Wellington, Oct. 22. Mr. Massey is confident of .bringing the session to a close 'by the end of this week or, at latest, by Monday or Tuesday of next week. Just how he is going to accomplish this, only who have witnessed many similar performances can conjecture. Though the session has now run into nearly four months and has been peculiarly free from time-wasting demonstrations there still is enough business in sight to keep Parliament sitting till Christmas. The Liquor Bill is hung up by a disagreement between the two Houses, the Social Hygiene Bill is buried under an avalanche of protest »nd Objection, yet another War Regulation Bill is on the stocks, the Supplementary Estimates hruve to be passed, the . report of the Cost of Living Committee has ; to be further considered and that of the Meat Trust Committee has to be presented. But in spite of all those and. of many other matters demanding the serious and deliberate attention of Parliament, if Mr; Massey and his colleagues make up their minds to ring down the curtain -within the next few days nothing Ran prevent them having their way. THE LIQUOR BILL. The disagreement between the twb houses oyer the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill is causing the friends of the measure some little anxiety. 1 The point in dispute concerns the supply of liquor with meals-, the Council holding that only hoarders should enjoy this privilege and the Bouse contending that it should be extended to all customers. If the 'House is firm, as it; probably will be, it will get its way, as the only alternative to an agreement is the abandonment of the Bill, which- would mean the retention of the old hours and the loss of such advantages as the majority in the Cabinet expects from six o'clock closing. The mrnor |thalt several memlbers of the House are repenting-of the hasty support they gave to Mr. Massey'.s unexpected amendment persists, but, on the other hand, one or two members who opposed the amendment are now urging that the earlier hour of closing should be enforced just as strictly as was the later hour. Otherwise, they say, the consumption, of a biscuit would entitle every thirsty soul to a, drink. COST OF LIVING.

"> The general expectation i s that the drastic proposals of the Cost of Living Committee will provide the Government with an excuse for doing nothing this session towards the restriction of retail prices. Had the committee contented itself with recommending the appointment of a food controller with authority .to fix the prices of certain specified commodities perhaps the Pririie Minister would have overcome his antipathy to State interference with trade, and possibly the Minister of Finance, freed of the fear of demands being made upon the Treasury, would have become reconciled to the less hazardous experiment. But it is obvious .that' neither Mr. Masse,v ltor Sir Joseph Ward would 'be very favorably disposed towards any scheme that threatened to undermine their ministerial prerogatives. They both have refused to give the lioard of Trade more than advisory powers,. and that body is at least as well qualified as any food controller coming new to the work could be to regulate prices.

NEW ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. One effect of the heart-to-heart talks between the party leaders and their supporters has been to put the idea of an early general election out of the mindß of Ministers. When the rank and file of the House were showing a disposition early in the month to kick over the traces Mr. Massey told them all his preparation were in train for appealing to the constituencies at once; but in reply t 0 a question put to him on Friday by Mr. Hudson he said any legislation required in connection with the new boundaries could be very well left over till next session. In the ordinary course the election would have taken place this year, but now it seems probable from the attitude of Ministers and from what <?he hears in the lobbies that if the war should be still dragging on when Parliament meets next June a proposal for'a still further postponement will be made. Not even the Labor members would be anxious to go to the polls while the war waa diverting all attention from domestic affairs.