WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1921, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

GERMAN REPARATION. NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST INSTALMENT. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Oct. 3. The half-million of German reparation money Mr. Massey hdsi in his pocket, figuratively epeaking, will be a »ery welcome addition to the Government’s slender resources. It may not go very far towards satisfying the demands that are being made upon the Treasury just now, but as an earnest of Germany’s intention to discharge her obligations to the nations she so wantonly involved in iffar it ie entirely acceptable. If, as the Prime Minister thinks possible, a million and a half should be received annually--from the same source during the next thirty-seven years, the Dominion finance will be very materially assisted. But it ia to be hoped that, this windfall, and the prospect of more, will not lead the Government to stay its hand in effecting the economies it has foreshadowed. The half-million Will be absorbed in a week, and the further payments may never eventuate. The report of the departmental economy committee is expected to make its appearance very shortly after Mr. Massey takes his place in. The House, and if it does not point to savings substantially larger than tire German reparations there will be general disappointment. • THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The debate on the Address-in-Reply is proving curiously dull and uninteresting considering the number and importance of the questions that are awaiting discussion. On Friday night it looked like fizzling out altogether after Mr. David Jones and Dr. Thacker had spoken, and probably would have done so had not Mr. A. D. McLeod been put up to move the adjournment. The truth is that, in the absence of the Prime Minister, the House lacks even the pretence of animation. While Mr. Masters was delivering his startling indictment of the cement companies and the Board of Trade on Thursday afternoon, half the seats in the Chamber were empty, and not a score of members were really taking notice, borne life is sure to be imparted

to the proceedings, however, when Mr. Massey arrives. The four Oppositions, though small in numbers, are not lacking in debating ability, and, it may be assumed, have been withholding their fire for a more worthy occasion. The other side of the House is quiet because it serves its purpose to mark time till its leader takes its place. In the circumstances the opening of the session very well might have been delayed till this week. RACING COMMISSION. Presumably the communication from Sir George Clifford, the president of the Racing Conference, to which Mr. Vigor. Brown, M.P., the president of the Napier Park Racing Club, has made such a vigorous retort, is a circular letter that has been addressed to all the racing clubs. If this is so, and if Mr. Brown’s is the only dissentient voice to Sir George Clifford’s approval of the Racing Commission’s rtk port, then the prospects of the endorsement of that document by Parliament must be very bright indeed. But Mr, Brown claims to have not only the support of a.number of other clubs than his own in his opposition to the report, but also the sympathy of a majority of the members of the House. The member for Napier has been lobbying very vigorously since the opening of the session, appealing to both the friends and opponents of racing, arid it is quite likely his plea for preservation of the old clubs and for caution in the establishment of new ones have influenced some, of the members. But so far as Parliament is concerned, the whole matter rests with Mr. Massey, and there is a growing feeling that the Prime Minister will be. on the side of the report.