WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 October 1918, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE PARTY LEADERS. POLITICS AND PROBLEMS. [Our Own Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, October 18. So far as local politics and domestic affairs are concerned, Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward have proved rather unsatisfactory subjects for the persistent, interviewer. Tliey have declined and still are declining" to discuss the business of the approaching" session, to indicate the Minister that will be sent to London, or to say whether or not the life of the present Parliament will be further prolonged. Within a few hours of his arrival the Prime Minister, in r*vply to a question suggested by the results of the Wellington Central and Taranaki by-elections, said he was ready to meet any challenge that might be thrown down inside or outside of the House, but this brave declaration did not appear very illuminative when A came to ' he analysed. Challenges from within, to speiuc frankly, have few terrors tor a National Cabinet, and challenges from without, in war time, do not fall on particularly sensitive ears. THE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. kU.ii UV putting IWO aiiii. two Lj o v.\..ei, > v nCJQi.Uijj' wuiit ijiO x ,.,. >.j j.t,aU.cj.S sujy aim wilal tliey xcu\,J ILUaiUU, ii. lli.iV be |> JSSU,..^; lu iiuUvj a plcUy sllieWU guess as u, •>, out is j.u umir mind.-.. J-hey are o.jtii lor instance, nuu Liie win be over oeloie llu ti)i : i;uiua;i nuiidays. ims en.t uouid be achieved only by concentrating die attention ui me ilous>f upon two or three absolutely uigeiit ineasuies. toupply, anotner ■ain Joan, a iiuaur propo&al of some tuml or lu.otiier ann periiaps an aiuenduitiil of the land Jaws, with a view to facilitating soldier settlement —but even with a programme' reduced to lhs sieudtiest (iiinensious, members still would have needless opportunities to tails: unleso Mr Massey put on the big boots and resoitcd to driving tactics, which would be a somewhat perilous proceeding in the present temper of the country and with a general election looming ahead. THE LIFE OF PARLIAMENT. At present the life of the existing Parliament stands prolonged till the end of next year, but of course it may be terminated earlier by the will of the Government expressed through his Majesty's representative. The impression one obtains from people who may be supposed to be more closely in the confidence of Ministers than the man in the street can be, is that while Mr Massey would welcome an earlier election on personal grounds he still holds firmly to the view that the parties should not be set at one another's throat-; while the war is on. Sir Joseph Ward 7-i in agreement with his colleague in the latter respect. Had he had his way there would have been no general election in 1014. and -'t may be worth recalling no National Cabinet, but merely a party truce, which would have left the Government of the day unhampered in its war efforts. He still thinks this would heave been the better course. THE LIQUOR QUESTION. .But whatever the intentions oi the U'Oveminent may oe, and wuatever its settled i'oiic v v, i ar-

liaiiielil will Have to iace ilie liquor question m one shape or auoilier. j'iv'en in the wry improbable coiiUiigency ox Jiinioiers

not moving in the nniner themselves the problem still would be bound to maKe us appearance on tiie floor of tiie iiuu.se. Tne petitions to lie presenied to Parliament oy the Zealand Alliance and the Moderate League wilt bear an enormous number of signatures and will justify any private member moving \a the matter in the event of Aiinisters failing to do what he conceives to be their duty. It will not be a \ arty question, though the party leaders may bo.d different views as to the proposed reforms, and for once the House will be found voting on a great national issue without the interference of the party whip. The remit is a matter only for speculation. At the momeinl the popular opinion is that a refrendiun on a bread basis will be granted.