WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1921, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. THE OPPOSITION DEMONSTRATION. (Special Correspondent.) * Wellington, Alar ch 16. So far the debate on the Address-in Reply has been neither very interesting nor very stimulating. Air. K. Williams, the new member for Bay of Plenty, led off in the ordinary style, striking the Imperial note earnestly and confidently, but half way through he lapsed into “road board” politics and from that on was not impressive. Mr. James Cragie, the seconder, who plumed himself upon being the first non-party member selected to assist in the passage of the Address, left no doubt about the quality of his Imperialism, drawing largely upon the poets for its expression and embellishment. Both the mover and the seconder, of course were strongly in favour of Mr. Massey attending the Imperial Conference, and they did not embarrass the Prime Minister’s colleagues by attempting to explain why a session of Parliament could not be held during his absence from the Dominion. THE OPPOSITION BLAST. Mr. T. M. Wilford did not linger over the customary congratulations to the mover and seconder when he rose to sound the first blast of opposition. He had no doubt Mr. Williams would play politics as they had played football together in their schoolboy days, strenuously and without bitterness, and he hoped Mr. Craigie would be long spared to the House, if only to brush up its acquaintance with the gems of English literature. But the leader of the militant section of the Liberal remnant did not dwell long on the soft pedal. He gave place to no one in devotion to the interests of the Empire, but in his devotion to the Empire he included a lively concern for the welfare of the Dominion. New Zealand, he said, should be adequately represented at the Imperial Conference—by Air; Massey if the Empire really could not get along without him—but the Dominion should be looking after its own domestic affairs at the same time. And so on and so on. NOW AND THEN. The leader of the Liberal Opposition sought to strengthen his case against the postponement of the sessionHby quoting from a speech delivered by Air. Massdy twelve years previously in similar circumstances. Here, he scored distinctly, though the Prime Alinister’s confession of two or three sessions ago that with the accession of.knowledge he had changed his opinions on many questions, took a good deal of the sting out of the hit. When Sir Joseph‘Ward was going Home to the Imperial Conference in 1909 Air Afassey was all against the postponement of the session and said so with the asperity which distinguished his speech in those times. But the Hon. W. Downie Stewart followed with the reminder that twelve years ago Air. Wilford himself had strongly supported postponement and thus obviously weakened the point the leader of the Opposition had made. A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE. The Government out and out supporters having entered upon a conspiracy of silence in regard to the debate and the Labour members reserving their fire for the support of their own amendment, the Liberal and Independent members had the floor practically to themselves yesterday at both the afternoon and evening sittings. The Hon. W. Nos worthy occupied a quarter of an hour ip a very, spirited reply to Air. George Forbes’ comments upon the Government’s alleged breach of faith in fixing the wheat prices, but except this indignant pro. test the official silence was unbroken. Air. T. K. Sidey, who, without any of the graces of the orator still remains one of the most effective speakers in the House, took up the tale at the afternoon sitting. Beginning by warning Air. Craigie that his constituents might look with suspicion upon hfe latest expression of independence in seconding te Address-in-Reply, the Prime Minister interrupted him to say the member for Timaru need hav£ no fear. The Government would look after his interests. Continuing, Mr. Sidey warmly denounced the administration o-f the Government, and Mr. Forbes followed on similar lines. Air. Lysnar made an appeal for the Imperial spirit and Air. Malcolm, unexpectedly, insisted upon a broader expression of this spirit than the Government, was giving. Altogether the second day’s debate was distinctly brighter than the first. The end may be reached to-morrow night.