WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1922, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

ELECTORAL REFORM. THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE. (Our Special Correspondent.J Wellington, July 5. As might have been expected, Mr. Massey’s definite renunciation of the principle of proportionate representation has provoked a very scathing retort from Mr. P. T, G’Regan, that ardent electoral reformer who sees nothing but party trickery in the Prime Minister’s change of front. Having exhausted all his available epithets in denouncing the timidity, and duplicity, of the Government, nowever, Mr. O’Regan finds some comfort in the prospect ahead. “In the nature of things,” he says, at the conclusion of a letter addressed to the Post,, “the time must come when the present system of election—if it can be called a system—will prove as embarrassing to the present Government as it did when its predecessor had recourse to. the second ballot. What occurred in Dunedin a few days ago .is what will yet happen in a sufficient number of constituencies to put the present Government out of office/’ Mr. O’Regan has no claim to be numbered among the inspired prophets, but he is one of those cheery souls that continue to pin their faith to the big battalions whose dissensions have divided and defeated them so long. THE INS AND THE OUTS. Probably Mr. O’Regan does the Prime Minister some injustice when he implies that with him proportional representation was merely an election cry designed to help him on his way to office. It is notorious that a reform of this sort does not have the same appearance viewed from every angle. The politcian aspiring to the Treasury Benches is ready to see only the need for the widest and most precise representation of the people. The. politician in occupation of them is disposed to rate the system that gratified his aspiration as the very best the mind of man could devise. Agitations for electoral reforms, all through history, have originated with the “outs,” and been given effect by a new set of “ins” fresh from the constituencies. Mr. Massey followed the usual course, but his application of proportional representation to the Legislative Council wasobstructed by his oppents, for reasons which seemed good and sufficient at the time, and now his own enthusiasm has evaporated. The next move rests with the Opposition. Whether or not it will profit by the opportunity depends upon the measure and quality of its leaders’ patriotism. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Address-in-Reply, which commenced what promises to be a weary way in the House last night, did not make a very promising beginning. Neither the mover nor the seconder is a very accomplished speaker, and they both are too strong partisans to assume the air of detachment that is traditional and proper to the occasion. Mr. David Jones, the mover, who in the days of the long sojourn of his party in Opposition w r as one of the most doleful of pessimists, is now one of the most cheerful of optimists. He had no difficulty at all in seeing in the huge decline iii the Customs and income tax revenue a decrease in the taxation per head of the population. When Mr. Statham, with a more precise conception of the facts, attempted to lead him back to earth, he insisted the reduction was there and that it was “exceedingly pleasing to our people.” Mr. Clutha Mackenzie, the seconder, aimed at the high Imperialistic note, but did not always reach his goal. His attachment to Mr. Massey on account of that gentleman’s ability to “stimulate the needs of the country’ was an instance of the failure of his ambitious phrases. THE OPPOSITION. Mr. T. M. Wilford, the Leader of the Liberal Opposition, moved the adjournment of the debate, and in the ordinary course will take up the thread of the story when it is resumed. Mr. WII- - will have to make good on the present occasion. It will not be. sufficient for him to tear the speeches of the mover and the seconder of the Address-in-Reply to pieces, or even to show that the Speech put into the mouth of the Gov-ernor-General was a limp and meaning-' less thing. He will have to indicate some -alternative to the continued existence of the Reform Government and to satisfy the electors that it is a desirable alternative. A recital of the mistakes Mr. Massey and his friends made twenty, ten or even five years ago will not move the country. Mr. Massey has earned absolution by frank confession. The Opposition indictment must rest on the facts of to-day, if it is to be effective.