WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THU NEW PARTY. AX INDIFFERENT PUBLIC'. (Special to “ Guardian.”) AVELLTNGTON, Nov. 17. Tin-* announcement of the formation of a now political party by the alliance of the Nationalists and the New Zealand United Political Party has aroused little interest and no enthusiasm here. The manifestos put about by Mr George Forbes, the leader of the Nationalists, and Mr A. K. Davey. the organiser ot the t nited Party, have been simply ignored hy an indifferent public. They have not won even the tribute of ridicule. Mr I'orbes’s contribution towards the numerical strength of the new party is himsell and probably lour of his lollowers; .Ml I farcy’s, himself and an uncertain number of disgruntled Reformers whose names have not yet been disclosed. Sir Joseph Ward, the lion. David I’.uddo, Mr T. K. Sidey, and other old Liberal stalwarts are watching the movement from alar, presumably awaiting further information concerning its plan of campaign before associating themselves with its descent upon the Government. Ihe Reformers. as might he expected, are not looking upon the multiplication of parlies with any considerable measure of alarm. Ihe lion. A. D. McLeod, the Minister ol Flections, as he has been not inappropriately styled, smiles broadly when sympathy is offered him mi the gathering forces ol the Opposi-

THK LICENSING QUESTION. Perhaps the Prime Minister did well from a tactical point ol view in postponing the highly contentious measures on his legislative programme until members of the House had grown weary of constant talking and bickering. ft gave him a hotter chance than lie otherwise would have had of breaking down factious and persistent opposition. But the licensing Question involves so many broad and narrow issues that at whatever stage it had made its appearance it would have provoked a vast amount of discursive talk. Last night’s divison on the second reading, which cleared the way for innumerable amendments and gave no indication of tno relative strength of parties, was only the beginning ol the turmoil. The Prohibitionists and the Moderates, if the “ ilrys ” and “ wets ” may he so styled, alike were anxious to reach the committee stage of the tussle, which will not only shape the details of the Bill, hut must also determine its fate. Discreet people are not predicting the outcome of the whole business, everything depending upon the amendments the Prime Minister will accept, and at the moment liis intentions are not at all obvious. THE IF*TIT PLEBISCITE.

Mr Robert Wood, an ardent defender of the national system of education, issues a delimit challenge to the Hon. Mr Isitt to verify the conclusion lie drew from his so-called plebiscite to the effect that So per cent ol the parents were in favour of liible-rcading in schools. “ This So per cent is a gross absurdity.” Air Wood declares, “ . . .1 was very anxious to have an opportunity before the Education Committee of turning the light of day on his way of doing things, and it was arranged that I should submit fuller evidence and submit myself for examination. But my second appearance was conditioned by the appearance nf Hie officials of the Isitt Bill League with the plebiscite figures and other evidence before the committee, but strange to say those officials never appeared, never submitted their figures for examination, and now in a mysterious. anonymous way they appear in the public Press, and it is my unpleasant task to protest against the sacred name of ' Bible ’ being used to sanction such methods.” The next move is due from Mr Isitt. and it will he awaited with much interest hy a curious public. RACING LAWS. Though the racing public here is disposed to think there may have been good grounds for the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Cantcrhiirv Jockey Club in the ‘‘ Rowley case ” at the club’s recent meeting, it recognises that Mr A. T. Donnelly, one of the judges' appointed hy the Racing Conference to hear the appeal of the trainer and the jockey concerned, has rendered a very great service to the sport of racing hy expounding clearly and concisely how the laws of racing should he administered. The Conference judges, as is generally known, allowed the appeal of the trainer and the jockey on the ground, practically, that they had not had adequate opportunities to lay their defence before the judicial committee, and AD Donnelly, on his own motion, in a veritable model of illuminative analysis proceeded to demonstrate beyond all possible doubt that in the circumstances the appellants were entitled to he relieved of the charge upon them without any regard to the merits of the charge in which they were involved. Air Donnelly's simple explanation of the position should he broadcasted by the Racing Conference and given a permanent resting place in the pocketbook of every racing official. The president of the Conference has been as punctilious as Air Donnelly has prescribed in this respect, hut he cannot always lie on hand.