WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1918, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

/'■•■ THE Gof^iilSXT^.-i'USiTlO^.■■;/;, niE XißOii Am'AOiv \ (Special Correspondent Wellington, Nov. «. It has been easy fo; - people iiiiasMiiamled with the circumstances to attach too much significance to the little demonstration made against the t!overument m the llou.se o; llepresentatives on Tuesday night. The fact Unit'Mr I-liml' - -i .i-sirs motion of "110 confidence" was !cd by 48 votes to 12, though not q'uue a complete answer to Dr. Newman's subsequent criticism of the National Cabinet, allowed that the great majority of the rank and iile of the two principal parties are standing by the spirit of the "truce" as lovally as arc their leaders in the House. 'The suggestion that they are held together byftclfinterests—by a desire to prolong their political lives to the uttermost day ajiu hour—is scarcely fair. Mr Vigor Brown and Dr. Thacker are not the only Liberals who wish to get to the polls as early as possible, l't is doubtful, indeed, if their wish i$ half as ardent w that of any members, both Liber? 1 and Reform; who voted with the Government in the recent division. LABOR TACTICS.

Just what the Labor Tarty hoped to gain by taking a motion oF 110 confidence at this stage it is impossible to say. It did not even succeed in prolonging thedebate or in attracting any desirable attention to itself. If or can it claim to liavo embarrassed its sympathisers among the members of the ot'iier parties. Mr Poolo and J\lr Witty, rightly or wrongly, already were committed to support any proposal for bringing about a dissolution, and Mr Vigor Brown and Dr. Thacker have evidently thrown oil' all party ties and obligations that do not suit their humor at the moment. But, whatever the purpose of the Labov Pariy may have been in c&aNengiiig the Treasury Benches, there need be no doubt about its sincerity. Its members are obsessed by the notion that only an appeal to the electors is required to bring about their political millennium and that meanwhile the greatest service they can render to the country is to hasten the happy day.

A CANDID FRIEND. Dr. Newman, whose long political experience makes liim one ol' llu; most effective spea-kers in the House, following Mr H. Holland in tlie Address-in-lteply debate on Wednesday, pointed out to ilie Labor members that they were deluding themselves if they imagined the successes they had achieved at the bye-clec-tion.l! were, due to the growing populavity of their creed They had won seats, not boeause the number oE Labor voters had materially increased, or increased at all, but because the Keform and Liberal voters had become dissatisfied with the National Government. The Doctor had much sympathy with (lie aspirations of the Lajpor Party. Had it stood loyally by the Empire ill winning the war, and In enforcing the very principles of right and justice for which it professed In stand, he could have forgiven it all il.s other mistakes and wished it well. Even as it was, he could not regret the presence of capable Labor representatives in the House, and he believed their widened outlook would correct many 01" tlieir misconceptions.

THE NEW LORDS. The new members of tlie Legislative Council had quite a field day yesterday wfaen tlio Address-in-Keply debate made further leisurely progress in their august chamber. The lion. J. B. Gow, the Hon. W. H. Triggs and the Hon H. I. Michel showed their faces to an appreciative and sympathetic House and on the whole acquitted themselves remarkably well. Mr Gow. as was to be expected, spoke mainly of rural afiairs, the needs and difficulties of the counciy settlers, but 'iie spoke with knowledge and understanding. Mr Triggs took a wider range, browsing over the whole face of the Empire, and at once impressed the Council by his confidence, his fluency and his choice of graceful language. His voice probably will be more often raised on the side of prudence than on the side of during, but, however it may be employnl, it will be a distinct acquisition to t'iio debating power of the Council. Mr Michel is an old platform campaigner, and it is only necessary to say he was not over-awed by the strangeness of his position.

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