WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1918, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

LIBERAL CAUCUS MEETING POSTPONED. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The Liberal caucus called for to-day was postponed on account of-the absence of many members. EIGHTEEN MEMBERS -DOWN. There are now eighteen members suffering- from influenza.. The number continues to grow. Severe cases include the' 'lion. W. D. S. AlaeDonald. THE -BUTTER PURCHASEMr. Massej' lias not yet received a reply from the Imperial authorities regarding the butter purchase. THE PEACE CONFERENCE. Referring to the I'eaee Conference, Mr. Massey said it would be a serious misfortune if the Dominion were unrepresented at the most important gathering in all history. He was confident representation could be arranged. The necessary work of the session included financial matters, the Estimates and Supply. The Licensing Bill was ready, and he hoped members would put it through in the time available. MINISTERS LEAVE ON THE Bth PROX. It is understood it is the present intention of 'Air. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to leave the Dominion about December 8, this being contingent on the completion of the important Parliamentary business. PARLIAMENT. !•" ■ FURTHER ADJOURNMENT DEMANDED. Wellington, Nov. 18. It is quite possible that when the House assembles to-morrow a further adjournment will be made on account of the infiuenza epidemic. A number of members have made representations to the Prime Minister on the subject, and, with at least ten members laid up and twice as many away at their homes, it will not be easy for him to refuse their request. But with the prospect of having to leave for the Peace Conference within the next three or four weeks, he does not like the idea of longer delaying the important business of the session, and if an adjournment is made it will be made very reluctantly so far as Ministers are concerned. Private members urge there is no need for the machinery oi- Parliament to stop when tho party leaders go away, but Mr. Massey takes a different view of the situation, and probably would prefer holding a second session on his Teturn from London to leaving the House to deal with a number of vital questions without his guidance. DEMOBILISATION AND REPATRIATION. Among these vital questions are those of demobilisation, and repatriation. These have become specially urgent 011 account of the events of the last few weeks, but it is doubtful if Parliament could deal adequately with them in less than a month. That being the case, the Government may elect to take authority to deal with the" problems by regulations I and trust to obtaining Parliament's approval later on. The demobilisation scheme is well forward and, of course, is the less difficult of tho two, but the repatriation scheme will involve the appointment of a Council consisting, it is said, of the Minister for Defence (Sir James Allen), the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald), the 'Minister for Lands (the Hon. D. M. Guthrie), and tho Minister of Education (Mr J A. Hanan), a Director of Repatriation. and a large number of district organisations. It is certain that no time remains for Parliament to workout the details.

OQUOR REFERENDUM. Though more than three weeks have elapsed since the opening of the session, the House so far has done next to nothing towards getting through the programme by which it was originally faced In the peace expectations, the armistice celebrations, and tlie influenza epidemic it has some excuse for its lack of progress, but it will have to bestir itself to some purpose during the next month if it is going to assist Ministers in redeeming their promises to tho_ country. In the minds of many people the liquor referendum has sunk into tiny piopoitions compared with the other big questions that have loomed large since it was first discussf.l}, but the supporters of the Eflieiencv Board's proposal are not goinw to allow it to slip out of sight in the whirl of post-war problems, and Ministers are being kept up to their pledges.

PP.OrO.9ED NATIONAL PARTY. Sir Joseph Ward is taking some pains to dissociate himself from the •■National Party" proposal, and in doing so seems to have the approval of a largo majority of his political friends. The story whinnered about after the publication ot the Solution adopted at the Reform caucus was that the two party loaders Had put their heads together and devised a scheme for the perpetuation of t.ie party truce. But both Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have denied any collusion towards this end. As a matter of fact Sir .Joseph knew nothing about die pioposal till he saw it. in print, and as a matter of assumption Mr. HMiy, thouoh observing the spirit of the tune. U not in the habit of submitting the proposals he makes to his friends to ; ms colleagues on the other side ot politics. At the moment the "National Party ;,u,a is not tickling the political imagination of the community to any extent-