WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1920, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

LABOUR DAY HOLIDAY. UNSEASONABLE WEATHER. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Oct. 20. The Labour Day holiday was entirely spoiled for people who would have spent it in the open, by the wretched weather. Rain fell from early morning till late into tile night, and during the greater part of the day was accompanied by a cold southerly wind. Sports, excursions and pienios were abandoned, with, of course, the royal exception of the racing at Trentliam, where the crowd, though greatly reduced by the rain, largely exceeded the sheltering capacity of the buildings and quickly tramped the enclosures into a succession of muddy rivulets and muddier quagmires. Trentliam never had been seen under more unfavourable conditions. Still the totalisator business went on merrily, the total amount passed through the machine being £77,875, an advance of £5,125 upon the amount invested on the corresponding day last year when the weather was ideal.

MR. MASSEY ON TOUR. Tho Prime Minister has announced his intention to make an extended tour of the Dominion as soon as possible after the closing of the session. During: recent years, what with the war, his trips to London and the exigencies of a critical general election, he has been unable to see a3 much of the country as he would have liked to do, and lie has many social obligations as well as political obligations to discharge. He can see no reason, he still says, why the sesi'on should not wind up on Friday, November s—the day before the New Zealand Cop will be run—and in the event of his expectations being realised he probably will be in attendance upon his Excellency the Governor-General at Pdicarton. Mr. Massey, as he has mentioned once or twice lately, is not a racing man, but he has a genuine love for a good horse.

TOWARDS LIBERALISM. Folk to whom the Prime Minister will re-introduce himself during the recess, whatever their party prejudice against the Reform leader may have been in the past, will find him much more favourably disposed towards what thoy call progressive measures than he appeared to he twelve or fifteen or even sis years ago. Whether this is the result of his observations during his trips to the Old Country or to his intimate association with representative Liberals in the National Cabinet it would be impertinent to inquire, but it is a fact that at the present time he stands, on most questions, just about where the Progressives of a decade ago did. Ho admits quite frankly that he has "changed his mind" and thus disarms criticism of the realisation of Mr. Seddon's prophecy that he would '"collar" the Liberal policy.

THE ONE EXCEPTION. The exception to Mr. Massey'a absorption of Liberal ideals has to do with land, settldmenfc. Though ■every other plank of the famous Reform platform of 1911 has been renounced, greatly modified or quietly removed, the one embodying the option of the freehold remains intact, even enlarged and strengthened. The process has been made all the easier by a considerable number of Liberal members in successive Parliaments inclining towards the Reform view on this question. The present leader of the Liberal Opposition is a notable example. Mr. YVilford declares himself an out-and-out freeholder and votes against his party when the question goes to a division in the Ho\ise. With such encouragement it is not surprising that Mr. Massey holds fast to his convictions. The plank has not only been maintained, but it also has b«en made all-embracing.