POLITICAL NOTES.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 68, 30 August 1917, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE BREWING- INDUSTRY,

MRISITT'3 AMENDMENT. PRIME MLMSTER CAUGHT NAPPING. FROM OUE OWN COBRESPONDENT. "WELLINGTON, August 27. The most sensational event this session occurred on Wednesday evening, when Mr L. M. Isitt moved his amendment' to the question of going into Committee of Supply. The amendment demanded heavier taxation on beer ami spirits. For a few moments the chief Government Whip looked as if aji enemy bomb had dropped at his feet. ! The Prime Minister is not often caught napping, but he experienced a bad five minutes while he was waiting for the decision. Mr Massey had stated to the House that he would not take the decision as one hostile to the Government; but those in his immediate vicinity knew that he was much perturbed, and that if the voting showed' the Government in a minority he would have taken the Government's position into consideration. It so happened that his chief colleague, Sir Joseph Ward, was not in the House at the time. How that gentleman would have viewed his follower's motion it would be difficult to say, but it is perhaps not too much to imagine that he would have regarded it as a break-away, and that he would have supported Mr Massey in his decision that the position would have to be- reviewed. There can be scarcely any doubt that there would have been an adverse vote to the Government. The feeling in the House is very strong that liquor is having a better run just now than it merits. The recommendations of the Efficiency Board have forced many to think of the waste that is occurring in the Trade, and they also recognise that the public generally are averse to allowing this Btate of things to continue. I am satisfied that the vote would have been against the Government. There would have been a few who are in favour of restricting the Trade found in the lobby with the Governnient r but the rest would have recorded their votes in opposition. Mr Massey erred in judgment when he said that he would not regard the amendment as hostile to the Government. Had he announced that he would take such a decision as a vote of no-confidence, Mr Isitt would have withdrawn the motion or it would have been defeated. I question whether any member seriously desires to depose the Government, although there are many who would be willing to give it a jolt."

GENERAL GODLEY'S UNPOPULARITY. Mr Lee on Wednesday night backed up Mr Parr in his allegations against General Godley. Mr Lee said that his experiences at the front and in the hospitals and streets of the Old Country were the same as those of Mr Parr. He had not met a single officer or soldier who had a good word to say for the general. Neither he nor Mr Parr made any aspersions as to the bravery or generalship of Sir A. Godley. Their statements were that the army could not be expected to be at its best when they had no confidence in their general. The allegations' of these two members are very serious, and the matter should not bo allowed to rest where it is. Either they should substantiate their statements or retract them. The Government owe it to the people that an opportunity be given for a thorough investigation, so that the confidence of the public may be restored in the supreme command of our forces. It is exceedingly regrettable that there should be any cause for responsible men to make statements in the halls of Parliament which, at a time like this, may have far-reaching effects upon the Dominion's share in the war.

When Mr Le& was speaking on Wednesday night he referred to the easy manner in which the brewing industry had been treated'by the Government's taxation proposals. Hon. A. M. Myers said that his firm in Auckland would have to pay 13s 6d in the pound tax. Mr Lee: "The hon. gentleman is very fortunate. I will not have to pay any* thing like 13s 6d in the pound. The hon. Minister must occupy a unique position. They have a place in museums for unique specimens." FARMERS AND WAR TAXATION. Right Hon. W. F. Massey spoke on Wednesday night and reviewed the speech delivered, that afternoon by Sir John Findlay. Mr Massey was happy when combatting Sir John's claim that the bulk of the war taxation should have been placed upon the unimproved value of the land.' When speaking Sir John had been asked if he were a single •taxer, but lie repudiated the impeachment, and claimed that his intention was to place the taxation upon the shoulders best able to bear it. This would appear to be those of the farmers, if one can judge from his remarks what his real opinions are. The unimproved value • was communitycreated fc value, and should bear its full share of the war, according to his view. Mr Massey said there was ho such thing at the present time as unimproved value, and that as a matter of fact as soon as a settler improved his farm the valuation went up. SETTLEMENT OF RETURNED SOLDIERS. Mr Massey gave some interesting figures relating to the probable settlement of soldiers after the war. He showed that the Government was doing a considerable amount for the men, and that it was more, than ptobable that

before the bulk of the men reached New Zealand everything would be in order to give them work. There can be ho doubt that the'Retumed Soldiers' Department has done a great deal for the men, and that as time goes on more will be done. Those that the Government are not doing all that it should would do well to obtain a copy of Mt Massey's speech before condemning the Government- in this respect in the future. •CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. When Mr Massey opened his remarks on. the 'Budget debate he commented upon the amount of criticism levelled at .the Government during the present session. Several members interjected that the Government deserved it all. Mr Massey good humouredly repudiated this. "Ministers are not concerned at the criticism," said Mr Massey. A Reform member: "That is the trouble." Mr Massey: "We are not troubled;.we are. doing - our duty." Mr Isitt: "We have been very good natured, you know." Mr Massey: "Oh, we have been good natured with you, too." (Laughter.) Mr Isitt, when speaking on the Budget debate, condemned the labour agitator in unmeasured terms. The worst foe Labour had at the present time, said Mr Isitt, was, the man who would try to persuade his fellows that it was a capitalists' war. Labour men should realise that it was a war to right wrongs. Once Prussiauism dominated the world they would lose the liberty that they had been fightiug for for years to.gain. The Labour man who took part in industrial trouble at the present time was a fool. 'He was trying to cut liis own throat. In the present struggle for liberty workers had a great opportunity to do their best for their cause, and once victory was secured it would be their right .to claim proper representation in the- governing of the country. Later the Prime Minister, in echoing these sentiments, sard he regretted to say that there were men going round New Zealand endeavouring to create industrial trouble. These men wero traitors to their country. —A member: "They should be hanged." "He has to earn.the money to invent it," interjected Mr W. Nosworthy, M.F\, in the House of Representatives last week, protesting against Sir John Findlay's proposal of heavier .taxation on unearned incomes from investments. Mr T. M. Wilford', M.P.: "No, it does not take any more brains to fall into a fortune than into a puddle." (Loud laughter.) Mr Massey: "The lion, gentleman has fallen into a fortune, evidently." (Laughter.) Mr Wilford: "The hon. gentleman did not fall into one; he- had it given him." Mr Speaker: "Order, order! I can't hear the hon. member."