Our Wellington Letter.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2206, 1 August 1910, Page 5

Our Wellington Letter.

(Fjiom Our Onx Corkkstondent.) July 27. The essence of the week is its uncommon liveliness. Budget, Legislative Council Reform, Abolition of the Bookie, narrow escape of the " tote," sharp warning to the same, Indecent Publications bill read a second time, Bylaws protected by second reading of a measure which is sure to pass if it is not sure to escape criticism, Miners' half holiday advanced a stage of some importance, a notice in the museum of antiquities to debate the newest subject under the sun, and Imprest Supply with the usual budget of grievances of the character which makes for recrimination under the Hag of "you're another." In this budget of many things there are many breezes across the floor of the House which to the new chum mean horror, and lo the old file, nothing. Such has been the week, and as it closes the echoes of a government caucus conic over us in the disguise of a government explanation which does not explain, and of an opposition caucus, without any attempt to do anything but hold tongues. Such is the week ending July 2:W<\, 1010. First for the Budget. The sition verdict is "Barren Budget." The Ministerial side is ecstatic. Between the two lies the truth, which as everybody knows is bound to prevail. So far the most that the House has done is to listen to an uncommonly ingenious discussion on the Budget as to how and when it is to be debated. We shall therefore know more about its view next week for the debate has been fixed to begin on Tuesday evening next. In the mean time all that need be said is the Budget is usually like a Governor's speech, the character of the measures being the essence and that is the tiling dependent on such measure as it comes along. Most of the matter appears non-contentious and also of considerable importance. Anyone who has read the Governor's speech and (he Prime Minister's speech at AVnitou in May of the present year will be able to possess his soul in patience till he gets the gist of the discussions in the House. These are expected to be long. Therefore the Council stands adjourned for over a Meek to give the other place fairplay and plenty of rope. It is a pity that some of the Government measures are not ready for the Council which might with their assistance, put in some very useful time. As it is the Council will have to rush at them when they do appear with the usual accompaniment of protest against this hasty method of doing business which is rough on a revising chamber. The Council might have been left to debate the State bank and State note issue resolutions given notice of by Mr ltigg, but it has seemed otherwise to the powers that be. Of course these subjects are inconvenient, inasmuch as the world is hardly ready for their consideration as yet, The friends of the State bank declare that the time will be ripe in a year, but they are a proverbially sanguine race. It is necessary that they should he. The Council came through the lire of Mr Russell's bombardment without serious loss. The strangest thing he said was that once a defeated government got .i complaisant governor to Hood the Council with its nominees just before it resigned odiec. But the equally strong reply was made that the Crown took care that such a proceeding should not be repealed. It is the practice at Home for outgoing Governments to appoint to the Lords sonic of their men. But the whole system of the Lords is antiquated and near its end. Wc do not take all our precedents from that course. Wc only take those who confine the financial power of the Council within the proper constitutional limits. However Mr Russell does not, lam given to understand, expect to get his Bill any further forward, recognising that the House does not favor the private member taking the initiative in amendments of the constitution. The second reading debate did the House much good by way of amusement.

The Indecent Publications Bill got through second reading upstairs without trouble but the discussion was lively enough. The difficulty of the booksellers was got over by the Attorney-General undertaking to have doubtful cases referred to him. He will have a hot time as ever man could hope for in search of adventure. One member proposed the establishment of an Judex Expurgatomts but it was discovered that the custom of the trade would make it impossible. The books are selected at the other end, and on arrival are rushed by the eager reader. Consequently there can be no index, and even the bookseller himself can not know anything about the books he is selling. It is notcable also that he never objects to the profit accruing, and as the biggest profits accrue from the sale of books that are most shady, something ought to be done. Everyone felt that the bookseller could not be allowed to make money out of pornography merely because it is impossible for him to take any measures to detect the same. The Atlerncy-Geiicral therefore undertook to supervise. He added that with the assistance of some good librarian, like the smart librarian of .Parliament for example, he thought he would get through all right. But this only menas that an index will have to be got together some way. Probably it will be necessary to get it done at the other end, the High Commissioner's Office being saddled with the responsibility. The best way in.the opinion of some of the observers of the situation would be to leave the booksellers to get out of it the best way they can. They make the profits and they can hardly expect the State to set up beacons for their safety on an admittedly perilous course. A man is supposed to look after himself when he crosses the street no matter what the traffic may be. Why not extend the analogy to the traffic of the books.

Barely has the atmostphere been so sultry as it was during the trial and execution of the bookmaker. That practitioner had the time of his life. If he makes money he has to eat a certain amount of dirt with it. Anyhow he is abolished so far as a resolution of the House is concerned, and the resolution is certain to be followed by a bill, which in due course will become law. The attempt to make the bookie and the machine stand together was easily beaten off and the machine got another lease of life, but if anybody asks what is the purchase value of the life he will not get a high quotation. Still racing is popular aud if betting of any sort is prohibited, there will be betting of the worst sort. The friends of the machine are develop.

ing the argument so frequent in the mouths of the friends of the liquor trade who arc always contending that jlicense of the public house prevents the sale of liquor. The amount of the liquor however will be very seriously curtailed. The vast majority of the members of both houses is of the opinion that there are too many race meetings. And if they did not say " by half " they meant something very like it. When the bill comes down it will show a big percentage of reduction. Everyone will be curious to know what steps will be taken to deal with the bookie after his suppression. No one believes that he will go out of business merely because he cannot go on to a racecourse or do his work in Tattersail's Club. The inability of the law to deal with the lawlessness of him was the reason, or one of the reasons, for the legislation of him which has proved so disastrous. The general question is what are wc going to do about strengthening the law.