WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1920, Page 9

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

ANOTHER MINISTER, (fspetsi&l Correspondent.) Wellington, July l i. The portfolio of Dafence at last found safe r-:-?ting plane in the hs.y-i s of Sir ft. Heat on .Rijodes, lb" member for i'Me.-mnr.'.', a»d for the first time for many a long ysar Canterbury Jtas two representative:* in the Cabinet, a. fittui? reward. Die solicitors are saying, for its renunciation at the last general election of thirty years almos., exclusive devotion to Liberalism. Sir Heaton, as the new Minister will be generally known, is one of the most delightful personalit'ss in the House' and his return to the Cabinet after his retirement to facilitate the formation of the National Government will be viewed with general satisfaction. He is au enthusiastic soldier, though by no means a militarist, and a most car - ful and conscientious administrator. GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND.

The member for Grey, whose be it friends must sometimes be grieved by his lack of taet, is annoyed because the Speaker has ruled out of order his notice of motion referring to "the tragical situation in Ireland as a direct outcome of the denial of self-government to the Irish people," and recording "unec[uaHfied condemnation of the military occupation of Ireland." Of course the motion had it been submitted to the House would have been rejected by an overwhelming majority, not because members would deny Ireland a large measure of self-government but because they properly 'regard Home Rule as a domestic affair of the Mother Country in which they have no right to interfere. But Mr, Holland hates: being deprived of any opportunity to gibe at the things loyal people hold sacred. NORTH v. SOUTH. Mr. V. H. Potter, who brings to the House the loudest voice among the new members and the intention, it would seem, to make it heard far beyond the walls of the Chamber, is drawing odious comparison!) between the amount of railway expenditure in the South Island and the amount of railway expenditure in the North Island. This, of course, is an old story, but the member for Boskill is giving it a new turn by suggesting that the North Island should be compensated for past neglect by the difference in the earnings between the two sections being set aside for payment of interest and sinking fund on a ioan of nine millions required to place the northern mileage on an equality with the southern. It would be a fair adjustment of the position, he alleges, and few of his northern colleagues dissent.