POLITICAL JOTTINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10633, 5 July 1920, Page 4

POLITICAL JOTTINGS

HOUSE AND LOBBY TALK NOTES FROM THE PRESS GAL. LERY. THE NO-CONFIDENCE AMENDMENT. The second week of the session passed off quietly, arid so far little actual business has been done. The only matter of urgency that has yet been brought down,' the Imprest Supply, went through with almost surprising case, and- the last few days have beendevoted to the Addxesa-in-Rcply debate. Often regarded as a wearisome wasto of time, the debate this year is made more interesting than usual because there must within a very' little while bo a division of the Houe© on a noconfideneo amendment moved by the' Loader of tho Oppoaitiou. This division, it is expected, will test the House and cause all hands—straight out party men and others —to show - where they stand. It seems certain the division will be reached _ dunng > thin week. Several more Liberals intend to speak before the vote is taken, and more, probably, will be heard from the Labour be"nches, but tho tendency of the Government members last Friday was to sit tight. The Leader of the House has not called on members for very late sittings so far, but soma pressure may be applied from now on, as there is considerable business ahead and bills already are accumulating. LABOUR TO VOTE WITH LIBERAL One of the most interesting facts which has made its appearance during the debate is that on Mr MacDonald's * no-confidence amendment Labour will follow the Liberal Leader into the. lobThe chairman of ihf. Labour' party has definitely stated wiat its members will vote for the amendment. There is no question as to what the Liberals win do—the party _is solid—and when the division bell rings interest will centre chiefly in the votes of the Independents, and some of the ''Reformers"

who freely criticise the Government. ANOTHER CABINET APPOINTMENT PENDING. Members are expressing the opinion in the lobbies that the Governmen's should appoint another Minister to the Cabinet. The Government has. carried on a long white without a full Cabinet, and the Prime Minister ha* had the lion's share of the.work. ,Fqt the sake of expediting business ft isconsidered that another appointment should be made/" and that Mr Massey should be relieved of some of Hs burden. A statement respecting the new Minister was expected shortly af ter_ th© opening of Parliament, but now it is unlikely that the Premier will mak« any announcement while _ the no-con-fidence amendment remains undecided. - , v MORE TO, BE HEARD OF THE SUGAR DEAL, It will be a little *urprising' ifj when the House sits to-morrow, someone has not a question, to ask about sugar. An important announcement was known to be pending, but for certain reasons us to the form in. which. it would be made lfc was not expected for a few days yet. However, the telegraphed Press message has # been, quickly followed by a Ministerial statement, and it may be taken as certain that another statement will follow in the conxse of the week. CONFERENCE OF WELLINGTON DISTRICT MEMBERS,

The Wellington r district member* ara organising for action this year, and tomorrow they are to bold a conference which may, be of to this end of the island. Those- eligible to attend the gathering axe drown from a wide x district, not merely from the city of Wellington, The main area i» the southern portion of the North, Island, but besides the representatives of the people of that territory one- pr two members from the extreme nortb of the South Island may attend. The idea of the organisation is that the members concerned should corttbtao to battle for the interests of their area. Many think* that in the past Wellington and its greai back country have not got all that was dae to them because their representatives have not been united and because some of them endeavourd to be rather too reasonable i—and succeeded. The hope of the promoters of tho new body is that a little organisation will cnsure # unity and euro what Dr Th&cker might call the super-reasonableness.

THE BATLESS HATTER.. Few sophisticated persons leave anjv thing lying about big public buildings. However, a well-known Auckland figuro came to Wellington the other day and re-visited bis old haunt where he had sat as a and even as a Minister. Removing hus new hat, he hung it on a window-lodge in «sae of the corridora, and went to chat with some friends. Some time later ho was about to go, but tho good hat had preceded him. Search revealed no trace of it; it had vanished. It so happens that the gentleman owns a huge business which stocks hate. There was nothing to do but ring up the chop, and then wait at the front door for fhe man to come- up with a fresh "nail-can." What everyone wants to know it how an old Parliamentarian got caughl no simply. ALICE PARKINSON. It is expected that more will b« heard in the House of the Alice Parkinson case shortly, . Fresh communications hare reached Wellington, nnd tho matter is bound to crop up again in some mannor Terj soon. . * TO-MORROW. When thoj House eits to-morrow there is 6ure to be tho usual deluge of questions, after which the Address-in-Roply. dtibate will bo proceeded with. Tho Legislative Council, which had an easy time last week, will sit again to-morrow.