WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 October 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IN A CPJTICAL MOOD. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 28. Probably as a retort to the criticism that has been levelled against itself in various during the present session, the Legislative Council lias ' been indulging in some plain speak-. ■ ing on its own account. The candor lias not been confined to the Hon. J. T. Paul and the Hon. John Parr, the | '•Labor Lords," who, of course, are • the "Independents' of the- chamber, .' owning allegiance to neither party '

and specially commissioned to represent the spirit of divine discontent which proverbially makes the wheels of progress go round. Even Sir Walter Buchanan, commonly regarded as the epitome of all the proprieties', has been speaking with startling frankness, of the qualiiieatious of the 'new Public Trustee and the Hon. (!. Carson has been glorying in his recognition of "the terrible weaknesses of the Government." The Hon. W. Earusliitw is pained by the efforts of Ministers to "get away from Democracy" and the Hon. A. "T. Maginnity deplores, their assumption of uiii.listructed authority in details of administration. SHELVED REFORM. As a matter of plain fact the live members of the Council are feeling a little irritated by the Government's persistant neglect of their chamber. Probably a majority of them are not particularly anxious to see the Council made elective, though this was one of the strong election cards the party to which they owe their Heats, but "they want to have this question definitely settled one way or the other and in either case they want the chamber restored to its full strength. The Government's reply to all this is that during the continuance of the party truce it is impossible to deal with the problem of Council reform, the views of the two parties being distinctly opposed to one another, and that in the meantime it is undesirable to appoint more members than are actually required for the transaction of the current business. But in spite of this pronouncement it is generally expected that several appointments will be made in the near future. SIX O'CLOCK CLOSING. The Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill is still before the Statutes Revision Committee of the Legislative Council and from a statement made by Sir Francis Bell yesterday it is understood it will not make its reappearance in the Council before Wednesday

next. Meanwhile a great masg of evidence is being taken by the Kevi-

sion. Committee and a, small army of lawyers is picking holes in the measure. It is highly improbable that theCommittee will, recommend any departure from the decision of the House in regard to the hours of sale, from 9 a.m. to G p.m., but it i s quite i probable it will suggest minor amendments to suit the convenience of [ travellers and to allow of liquor being ■ supplied with meals after G p.m. 1 of this character would have to be very fully safeguarded to get through either bralnch of the Legislature, but the official prohibitionists, now realising the magnitude of their victory on the main point, would not meet them with any factious! opposition. SECOND DIVISION.

t . Thanks to its excellent organisation I and its tactful persistence, the Second Division League has made very considerable progress towards the goal it ' set out <<j achieve. It has won the : svmpathy of a large majority of the members of the House and has obtained n, number of very material con'■'''■■sions from the Minister of Defence. The iiiHjorta.nl* differences reiiiaini'mr between Sir Jamesi Allen and the representatives of the League have, to do with the amount of separation allowance and the substitution of legislitiiv;, for regulations. The hitler point Hip League regards: as vital. It, wislien the of the married man going to the war to be secured by statutory law against (Tie and risks of the future. Equality of sacrifice is the underlying principle- <■' its demands and so far this principle applies Parliament is in the humor to do ilsi duty. Ministers may not be aide to do all that is being e:'-ed of iliem. but they are showing a disposition to do all that i, s possible.