THE POLITICAL FRAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 145, 20 June 1924, Page 8

THE POLITICAL FRAY

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

UNUSUAL QUIET

SESSIONAL POSSIBILITIES.

Although the session is now less than a week off, the general atmosphere around Parliament Buildings is such that the feeling of quiescence ( and general dullness is almost uncanny. Certain it is that at'this time'of the year': it is somewhat unusual, and some there are who liken it to a calm before a storm. "Al| quiet on' the. Potomac" was a. remark in the Legislative precincts to-day, which aptly summed up the'situation; , ■ ' , ■

Ministers for some weeks- past, when absence from Wellington has not made it * impossible, have been, preparing for the session, and the Government will have a fairly lengthy, list pf measures ready for presentation to ' the House whenever the Address-in-Reply Debate terminates: Non-party Bills will- be conspicuous on the programme, but that is not to say that they will not be productive of speeches which will occupy considerable areas of that Tome which goes by the name of Hansard, and-which runs a ueck-and-neck race with the Statute1 Book in the- contest for bulk. The general state of calm which pervades '■' Parliament House at present, however, will be dissipated in the early part of next week, when members will be arriving and., preparations set afoot for caucus meetings. ■ <£n view of the possibility of a 'new Minister being selected shortly, the gathering-of members of the Reform Party will, no doubt, be almost as interesting as was a caucus last session when, it is said, there was some competition for! a position in the Cabinet. The selection o£ Cabinet Ministers is the task of the Prime Minister, made none the ■ less •■ easier i£ there are many from whom to caU, but actually few to choose. Asked this week about the possibility of the Reform' caucus discussing the question of the appointment of a- new .-Minister, the Prime Minister smilingly replied, "That's my job.". ■ NO-CONFIDENCE MOTIONS. ;

Last session must have constituted a record for the number of no-confidence-amendments which 'were before the House, but it is'thought that in the coming session they will be even more prolific than, last year, despite' the fact tiiat m replying to a letter from Mr. Holland, Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, in March last, Mr. Massey ; expressed the hope that there would be fewer no-confidence amendments this session than last, ' thus enabUng the House to. do niore work.,

It is possible that there will be a contest .between the Leaders of the' Lib-erai-Labour and. Labour Parties,as to who shaJl take precedence in having:an amendment of lio-confidence • considered flrst. Last session, it will be recalled, ■Mr.; .Wilford was first in moving 'an amendment of no-cpnfidence, but to this various members of the Labour Party in turn proposed amendments which;the -bpeaker ruled to be disposed of before Mr. Wilford's amendment was' put to the1 House. •■ ■,-• ' • , ■

' Judging by speeches which they have made, recently,, both Messrs. Wilford and Holland may,be depended upon to divide the House on various matters'. On 28tlv February last, when asking the Prime Minister, to convene Parliament early this year,. Mr.. Holland advanced the following reasons for his request :—(1)' The general dissatisfaction prevailing, on the question of the basic wage, as fixed by1 the Arbitration Court; (2) the dissatisfaction in the. Public Service, particularly in the ranks of tlie_ railway .work-: ers and the post; and telegraph-:work-ers ;'_(3) thfTurgent need for legislation affecting the working': farmers and in connection with the moratorium';.-• (4) the general desire for legislation, dealing with trie Dominion pensions system, in. accordance with the promise of ;the Minister of-Pensions; (5) , the need for legislation amending the Workers' Compensation Act; (6) the need for,legislay tion making provisionl for. uriemploy-. merit; (7), the desirability of Parliament being,, accorded; ample time for the discussion oi the proposals' adopted by'tha Imperial Conference. .7'- : •

Whether by way of amendment to tlie motion '.'That a respectful address be presented to : His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General in reply, to His Excellency's Speech," or. by. way of amendment to such an amendment, it is considered probable that Mr. Holland will include, some of the: above, subjects ,in his-attack on the Government, as well as the question of the restoration -of wage standards in and out of. the' Publicr Service. All the indications. are that the session _is _ likely to be lively, and, if so, ■public, interest in politics ;will be considerably quickened. • ; : .