WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1922, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

MORE ELECTION GOSSIP. GUESSING AND SPECULATING. (Special Correspondent.) Welling’ton, October 27. As the day of decision approachesrumour becomes more and more busy with the name of 'Sir Joseph Ward in ; connection with the general election. This morning the Dominion quotes from the Dunedin Star a statement to the effect that if Sir Joseph contests a seat at all he will make his appeal to his former constituency, Awarua. As it happens the one thing the ex Liberal leader has made plain in respect to his intentions is that he will not ask the electors of Awarua to reverse their decision of three years ago. He has only the kindliest recollections of his association with Awarua and he harbours no grudge against its people for having made a change in their representation; but he feels that with the numerous demands upon his time in other directions he would not be justified in again undertaking the representation of a large and scattered constituency so far removed from his residence and his business activities. Beyond this Sir Joseph has no confidences to give the public to-day concerning his political intentions, but his intimate friends incline towards the opinion that he will be taking an active part in the proceedings next month. HIS ATTITUDE. Meanwhile one can only speculate as to what would be Sir Joseph Ward’s attitude towards the contending parties in the event of his being returned to the new Parliament. That he would do nothing to create further disruption in the ranks of the Liberal-Labour forces may be taken for granted, and that he would ally himself with the Reformers in any way is unthinkable. More probably* he would assume the role of an independent adviser and critic, devoting his attention particularly to finance, and leave his old associates to work out their own salvation. It may be said at once, and positively, that he has no intention of attempting to form a party of his own or of disturbing any of the existing party arrangements. It is expected that he will make an announcement of his intentions within the next few days and that without any further delay he will plunge eon amore into the election campaign. His presence in the field even as a free-lance, without any aspirations to office, will give addition, al piquancy to the contest and assure it against the deadly dullness with which it was threatened only a little while ago. THE PARTY IN POSSESSION. The Reformers, as the party in possession, naturally would not be overjoyed at the appearance of Sir Joseph Ward on the scene, but, strenuous as their opposition to his return would be, there would be no personal rancour in their ranks, both inside and outside the House, and quite a number who would welcome his return to politics, Mr. Massey and his colleagues, without leaving one stone unturned to secure success, are frankly confident of having a good working majority in the new Parliament and at present there seems no definite indication of their calculations going astray. The Minister of Lands and the Minister of Education are the only members of the Cabinet at present threatened with a stiff fight. Mr. Guthrie is faced by a very live opponent, a capable young man of parts, who will have a great deal of support on personal grounds alone, and Mr. Parr, in his' zeal for reform and for “flag-waving,” has given offence to a number of people whose party preferences are not very deeply rooted. The chances are that, these Ministers will retain their seats, but their hold upon their constituencies does not seem so secure as it did two years ago. OFFICIAL LABOUR. Mr. Holland and his friends expect to substantially increase their strength at the polls, and the Reformers’ determination to have a pledged supporter in every contest, no matter if it makes the way easy for a “Red Fed,” will help them very materially towards that end. An instance of what is going on in this respect is provided in the M aimarino electorate, where Mr. R. W. Smith was given the option between subscribing to the fsitt pledge or having a Reformer in the field whose presence would insure the return of the “Red Fed” candidate, who is a Red of the very Beds. Mr. Smith, who is a broad-minded Liberal of the old school, who never puts party before the interests of the country, made the reply that might have been’ expected from him. He had come into the House as a Liberal and. if needs be. would go out as a Liberal, hut he could not change sides to make his seat secure. And so Official Labour has ’another opportunity.

THE LAST DAYS. ACTION' AND INCIDENT. (Special Correspondent). Wellington, October 30. The closing days of a session of Parliament always are full of action and incident, as the dramatic critics say of a .popular play, and the closing days of the last session of the present Parliament are proving no exception to the rule. Mr. Massey, following the example of his predecessors in office, has reserved some of his most important legislation for the time when members are itching to get back to their own homes and their constituencies and are disinclined to offer any fatuous opposition to ministerial proposals. But a rumour put about at the end of last week to the effect that the Government would introduce in the expiring hours of the session a Bill providing for substantial monetary assistance being given to the embarrassed co-operative concerns has stirred the financial and business people into loud protest, and it looks at the moment as if Parliament this year will be much more critical of the belated legislation than it. would have been without this demonstration. “WITHO CT FOUNDATION.” The rumour that the Prime Minister Intended to bring down legislation authorising the Government to give financial assistance to the embarrassed co-opera-tive associations was mentioned by Mr. R. A. Wright immediately the House met on Saturday. The. member for Wellington Suburbs wanted to know if the Prime Minister was aware that ft fltorm nf ""M brewing in the

large centres as a result of the rumour. Mr. Massey replied promptly and with considerable emphasis that the statements which were being circulated were without the slightest foundation. There was no suggestion of equivocation in the Minister’s words, and they evidently were intended to settle the matter out or hand. But the financial and business communities are not yet wholly satisfied. Individuals declare that their information came from a perfectly reliable source and they -still fear that if the assistance is not given in one way |it will be given in another. Thej’ are | looking with some suspicion upon Mr. Massey’s proposal to extend the operations of the Advances to Settlers’ Act, but whatever Parliament does in the matter now it will do with its eyes open.

FARMERS’ BANKS.

The Rural Credit Associations Bill, the measure designed to create the Agricultural Banks demanded by the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union, was up for its -second reading on Saturday night and afforded the humourists of the House many opportunities for flippant comments. Mr. Massey enumerated many advantages to bo obtained by the farmers from the passage of the Bill and had no difficulty in carrying it through all its remaining stages in the House. The leader of the Opposition while favouring all possible assistance being given to the farmers could not see one -single benefit they would aht.ain from the measure. To this the Prime Minister made a significant reply. “Within a fortnight,” he said, “we shall be lending money to small farmers in sums not. exceeding £‘soo. The arrangements are macle and the money is there. Whether the money is to come from the Advances to Settlers’ Department or from some other source was not mentioned. It is very unlikely to come from the Rural Credit Association. THE THUNDERING PRESS. The local morning papers have only passing allusions to the political happenings of the week-end. “Cheaper money, as foreshadowed by the Prime Minister on Saturday will be,” the Dominion says, “welcome news in many quarters. Mr. Massey anticipates that New Zealand’s next loan will be raised on even better terms than the last 5 per cent. loan. It sounds. rather optimistic at the moment to look forward to raising the money at 44 per cent., but presumably the Finance Minister is not speaking without knowledge of the j prospects. At the moment money is [plentiful in London, and no doubt th? banks would be glad to see some of it iransferred to New Zealand. The estimation that the bank overdraft rate in the Dominion is to be reduced by onehalf per cent, as from the beginning of the coming New Year is a hopeful sign of easier conditions ahead. The Timos in its editorial columns ignores the politicians and their doings altogether.