PARLIAMENT.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 187, 4 July 1919, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

It seems that after all both the absent political leaders will return to the Dominion at the same time, somewhere, the Acting Prime Minister believes, about the first week in August. In matters of ocean transport, however, it is nowadays that important gentleman, the fireman, and his friend the wharf-laborer, who dictate, and Prime Ministers and Ministers for Finance, important persons though they may be in the political world, are no better off than any ordinary passenger when a strike is' on. Apparently, by latest advices, the disruption of industry which has been in progress in Canada during the last few weeks lias now come to an end, and there is a fair possibility of the ordinary transpacific traffic proceeding without further interruption. It would not, however, be wise to count with any degree of certainty upon the return of the two Ministers on any given date, but in view of the serious inconvenience caused by their prolonged jibsence from the Dominion it is ' sincerely to be

hoped that nothing may crop up to prevent their speedy return to Wellington. Sir James- Allen, we notice, is of opinion that his chief and Sir Joseph Ward will require at least a fortnight to get into touch with official business before Parliament meets. The delay' is no doubt unavoidable, but it should be as brief as possible. For our own part, however, we are not very hopeful of Parliament assembling much before the end of August, in which case the session could not well be of much more than six weeks' duration. This being the case, it behoves Ministers to have everything in readiness for the return of the leaders. There must be many matters with which it is not essential that the Prime Minister and his travelling companion should personally interfere, and all this business should be ready for Parliament to deal with directly it meets.