WELLINGTON TOPICS

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 157, 5 July 1917, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE MINISTERS' TRIP HOME

STATEMENTS. IN THE HOUSE

(Special Correspondent).

WELLINGTON, July 3. Though intensely interesting as recitals of "their experiences and observations during their trip Home, the statements made by Mr Massey and Sir Joseph Ward to the* Houseof -Representatives yesterday must have been disappointing to those people who had been looking for startling disclosures. They contained little of importance the insistent interviewer had not already extracted ' from the Ministers, 'and necessarily nothing at all concerning the great questions discussed by the Imperial War Conference and the Imperial War Cabinet. But both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance were listened to with rapfc attention by a full House and crowded galleries, and heartily ap-. plauded on the conclusion of their remarks. They touched lightly on the criticism that had been directed against them from some quarters in Connection with their prolonged absence from the Dominion, and, without inviting the reproach implied ;. the familiar French proverb, explained how their earlier return would have compelled ithem to leave uncompleted much of the work they had in hand. ' THE COMMERCIAL RESULTS. The Ministers were able to speak quite freely of the strictly commercial and financial achievements of their tour. Mr Massey reviewed in some detail theij- negotiations with j ■the Imperial authorities in .regard to the prices to be paid for wool, meat,, butter, cheese, and ot ( her commodities, and Sir Joseph Ward j showed how he had been able to j effect a saving of just upon half. « ; millK)ri :in brokerage and other dFees W^seussing ; ihese/^ubjepis^ '-the ;spoty -vThey expressed' them-' sglves ljn optimistic terms when retiring'to the course of tile war, Mr Massey hoping the end would be reached this year and Sir Joseph venturing upon a r prediction to the same effect, but thev urged that the certainty of victory should stimulate the pebple of the Dominion to still further efforts on behalf of th« Empire and to still higher aspirations and resolutions for the future Iheir speeches, in short, struck fust the right.; notes of assurance and dr termination and for these virtues they may be forgiven any of their minor defects. ; .*- PART*. That^certain members of the House are still a iitfcle sensitive on the questum of « par ty" was shown ye£ o?r^L- wn? on when fch* Minister | ot luolic \Vorks proposed to continue i the existence^ of an Advisory and Furnishing Committee - which was appointed last session to attend to various matters in connection with the - new Parliamentary buildings Ihe committee happens to contain a distmcj; majority of Reiorm mem- I oers, as mosr, of the sessional committees do, and Dr Thacker protested that it should not be revived without its party color being modified. He had xinderstood' when the National Government was set up that party differences and .distinctions would be set aside, but this certainly had not been the ease in the -appointment of committees, and he would like the Minister to reconsider hus proposal Mr. -Praser, however, explained that this ; ; was "merely an ordinary committee ■whose party color was'of no importance, and tho House 'apparently being of the same mind his motion v.as carried without further dissent. . •.:. ■■■... .SPEEDING UP. In presenting , a petition in favor of .six o'clock closing, Mr Craigie, the Member for Timaru,, who has a lively recollection of the futilityl of referring such, documents to a fusiona-i- committee; riioved that' it should go direct to tile Government, tiad there been any opposition to this course, even the opposition of o .single Member, the motion could not ; have been entertained; but till-:.the moment no one seemed anxious: to delay the progress of the petition, and Mr Craigie got his way. It is • hoped by those Members who wish to see the early' eloping question brought to a speedy vote that the result will be to greatly hasten the decision. If the various petitions went before a committee their consideration might be dragged on throughout the whole length of the session without throwing the faintest ray of additional light upon the main issue. ' If both sides agree, to. the course Mr Craigie's success h;ts indicated, a great, deal of time, and temper will be '.saved and a conclusion may be reached within a month.