POLITICAL TOPICS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 133, 12 June 1909, Page 9

POLITICAL TOPICS.

NEWS AND NOTES. •MR. .MASSEY ON THE MINISTRY. The personnel of the Ministry had some little attention given it by Mr. Massey during the course of his contribution to the Addrees-in-Reply debate. He began by saying that he missed the burly form of the Hon. iMr. M'Govwm from the benches. 'He was not able to say what ■was the reason for his exclusion. There •were many things about the Cabinet which ho could not explain. "His place," continued 'Mr. Mas&ev, "has been taken by 'Mr. 'Roderick M'Kenzie. 1 quit© underatand how that happened., Mr. 'Roderick M'Kenzie came along and said to the Prime Minister that he had the whole of the 'West Coast behind him, and he ivi\s supported by his colleague from the West Coast. And he informed the Prime 'Minister that his turn had come,' and if he was not given the position things would be very awkward for the Government from the West Coast point, of view. Then there is Mr. Buddo. Very little exception can be taken to him. I think 'Mi. Buddo's negative rather than his positive qualities eminently fit him to be the representative of Canterbury in the Cabinet. So far as •Mr. Hogg is concerned — there is no reason for him to look -uncomfortable. No one was more surprised than Mr. Hogg himself. He is there; don't enquire how he gob there. Then there is Mr. Ngata. He has got control of the Public Trust Department. It is not long since the Prime Minister said that he was in tie Government as a sort of private secretary. Sir Joseph Ward : I did not make that statement. •Mr. "Massey said that he would look up the Prime- Minister's statement, .which he ventured to say would place •Mr. iNFgata in a very awkward position. The people of the country at present were not satisfied with Mr. Ngata's position in the 'Ministry. '"Now," continued Mr. iMassey, "I have only one gentleman left to deal with — the Hon. T. •Mackenzie. In courtesy to him, I cannot pass him over. When I see him now sitting in the company of Mr. Fowlds, single taxer ; 'Mr. 'Hogg, land nationaliser; Mr. Buddo, leaseholder ; and supported, by Mr. Laurensori, Senior Whip, or, rather, Solitary Whip — a combination of Socialist, Radical, and Jire-braiid — (Laughter.) An Hon. iMember : He is not here. iMr. Laurenson (at that moment seated with (Mr. Miiaren) : 'He is here. Mr. iMassey : I am very glad he is here. iMy feelings with regard to Mr. 'Mackenzie when I see him in such company can be summed up in a very few words. I have ' the same feeling seeing him sitting there that I would have if I saw •Mr. Fowlds playing "two-up" on a Sunday afternoon — (loud laughter)— with the individuals who usually indulge in that recreation. I think that Mi*. Mackenzie will know exactly what I mean. Hon. Mr. Mackenzie : Is that all ? 'Mr. iMassey : I am quite sure the hon. gentleman does not want any more. Falstaff's description of his soldiers applies exactly. (Laughter.) THE FINANCIAL AND PUBLIC 'WORKS STATEMENT. In replying last evening to certain statements made during the Address-in-Reply, the Prime 'Minister was at considerable pains to show that public works expenditure would not be curtailed as a result of the adjournment of the regular ousiness o£ Parliament until the end of 'September. He declared that the Public Works Statement -would be presented at a. date not much later than was usually the case. So far as the' Financial Statement is concerned, \Sir Joseph undertook to deliver it before the end of October. DAIRY REGULATIONS. Tho member for New Plymouth (Mr. H. Okey) presented a petition to the House yesterday on the subject of the dairy regulations. The signatories were dairy farmers, who urged that Parliament shoidd give serious attention to the widespread dissatisfaction which exists among the farming community against the proposed new dairy regulations, and more particularly against the pioposal to charge a registration fee on milch cows. They prayed that, at any rate, the proposed charge might be removed from the regulations, "as," they said, "if the Government insists on this point we fear there will be much resistance to the payment of such fees, and consequently serious trouble will ensue." A PARADISE FOR SPIELERS. Some severe comments on the new Gaming and Lotteries Act were made by Mr. Massey yesterday afternoon. The result of the passing of that Act, he said, had been to make New Zealand a paradise for spielers. "They have come here in hundreds," he added, "and another result has been to greatly increase what is called the illegitimate form of racing, which is carried on not iv the interests of sport, but simply to afford opportunities for gambling. Scenes have occurred on our racecourses since the passing of the Act which were unthought of two or three years Ago, and a number of respectable people who used to go there for the enjoyment of the sport now stay away. The legislation is faulty. Even some of the more respectable bookmakers have complained to me of the position in which they have been placed by the passing of the Act. Ido not understand the influences that were brought to bear, and I don't want to know, but I sincerely hope that we shall profit by the mistake that was made. We have to do something better that that. — Mr. Poole : Abolish <the totalisator altogether. (Hear, hear.) — Mr. Massey : If the hon. gentleman proposed to abolish gambling at one stroke I will support him. — Mr. Wilford : You can'fc do that as long as there are two heads on a permy — (Laughter) — I mean a head and a tail. LAND SETTLEMENT. The Prime Minister, in combating the insinuation that tho matter of promoting land settlement was being neglected, stated yesterday that during the last financial year the Government had placed 2629 absolutely now settlers on Government lands, embracing some 916,524 acres, irrespective of those placed on estates purchased by the Government from private owners, the area of which amounted" to 73,155 acres. Since the end of the financial year the Government had purchased three more estates, and were going on with the purchase of estates for settlement. JOTTINGS. The House had the rather unusual experience yesterday of hearing itself addressed as "dear friends." ' The seconder of the Address-in-Reply, Mr. E. H. Taylor, of the Thames, is understood to be a minister of the Church of Christ. Members laughed heartily on recognising the familiar but rather out-ot'-place phrase. • Mr. Taylor was quick to correct the slip. "I won't say 'dear friends' yet, because I am not sure that all of you are."' Yesterday Mr. G. W. Russell became facetious. He gave notice to ask the Minister in charge of the Public Trust' Department whether, seeing the vasE majority of the members of the House have learned from the papers that a palatial Public Trust building has been opened in Wellington (with a luncheon), he will kindly allow those members whe; were invited to the function referred ti look over the building at a convenient opportunity \