WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1919, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE RETURNING MINISTERS. THEIR WELCOME HOME. (Special Correspondent) Wellington, August J. As was inevitable, the fact that none of Mr Massey's and Sir Joseph Ward's colleagues is proceeding to Auckland to weloome the party leaders on their return to the Dominion is occasioning a good deal of speculative comment. In some quarters it is taken as an indication of personal differences between the leaders themselves and in others of serious dissensions among the members ol the Cabinet that hav» remained behind. But as a matter of fact it is the pressure of work in their own departments that lias prevented Ministers undertaking a journey that would occupy the best part of a week. The Hon. A. M. Myers and the Hon. W. I). S. MacDonaid both had hoped to get away, but when the conference between the representatives of the mine-owners and of the miners was fixed for this week it became quite imI possible for either of them to leave town, llt is to them, as Minister of Supplies and Minister of Mines respectively, that the ultimate decision of the conference will be of the most pressing importance. THE PARTING OF THE WAYS. Sir James Allen, as Acting Prime Minister, is in much the same case. In the best of circumstances he will return the reins of leadership to Mr Maßsey at a very critical time in the history of the Dominion and of uleir party. There are rumors that while ready to remain in politics for a time longer Sir James is anxious to divest himself of .ministerial responsibilities as speedily as possible. However well or however poorly these rumors are founded, it is certain that during the absence of Mr Massey he has been carrying a burden that has left him with little time or inclination for more ceremonial displays. He, at any rate; could not give a week to tlio Auckland trip without the interests of the country and of liis chief suffering. The Hon. W. H Herries has troubles enough of his own to keep him at home and the other Ministers are not taken into account on occasions of this sort. THE FUTURE. The approach of the party leaders to the shores of the Dominion has not shed any fresh light on impending developments in the party and political positions. Though Ministers are not meeting their leaders in Auckland it is understood Mr Massey and Sir' Joseph Ward will.be fully informed as to the political situation immediately on their arrival, not both from the 'flame point of view, of course, but with the same common purpose. It is still generally-ex-pected that the. National Government will endure through a short session of Parliament and that the truce will not be formally renounced till after the dissolution. ' But speculation on this point must be largely futile till the leaders are f here to speak for themselves. Quite likely they will land with a cut and dried programme which will dissipate all preconceived notions of the probabilities and the proprieties. The one thing certain is that the truce will not be renewed. LABOR. Some sanguine people are hailing Mr Veiteh's address to hrs constituents as the clarion note that is going to call together a sane Labor Party as the saviour of the country. Official Labor, however, professes to attach little consequence to the utterances of the member for Wanganui and to have no fear of his attracting recruits from its ranks. The "bosses" of the party regard him as a Liberal, past redemption, because he insists upon thinking and voting for himself and finding good and bad on both sides and in all quarters of the House. But extremists apart, Mr Veit'-h his caught the ear of a number of folk who are looking for the birth of a new political era at the aproaching eloctw Even the Post, which in these days is disposed to regard the ultra-progressive with timfd suspicion, is applauding the' expounder of the new gospel and commending his words to the old parties. At the moment Mr. Veitcli's eliief peril appears to lie in pleasing people who hitherto have not been counted among his political friends.