WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue 13905, 5 November 1919, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

(Special to the Oamaru Mail.)

PRESERVE LABOR. ITS OWN WAY OR NONE. WELLINGTON, November 3. One of the features of the all night sitting of the House of Representatives which terminated shortly' after six o'clock on . Saturday morning was the Official Labor Party's rescue the Government- from a very uncomfortable position. . The Railway Bill was tinder discussion and Sir Joseph Ward had moved-for the reduction of the Assistant General Manager's salary by £1 as an indication that in the opinion of the House the meinbers of the Second Division were entitled to consideration if the salaries of the First Division were raised. This might have appeared to the miinitiated a rather round-about way of demanding that the lower paid should receive the same 'consideration as the higher paid men. >ut Mr Holland must have known perfectly well that it was the only practicable way in which the leader of. the 'Opposition"' could present his demand. But he affected to believe the whole business was one of camouflage, and when the question came to a. division he followed Mr" Massey into the "Noes" lobby, takiug Mr.Semple and Mr Walker with him, while Mr P. Fraser abstained/from voting. ; THE ISHMAELITES.

. That the Primo Minister did not regard Sir Joseph's motion as mere camouflage may bo judged from the fact that he declared he would strike out the whole schedule specifying the new scale of salaries througjtont the service_and might drop the Bill itself if the 'motion were carried. But Mr Holland's suspicion of the Liberals has "oecomo a positive mania- with him and probably if they adopted the whole Social-Democratic programme to-day he would renounce it to-morrow. The effect of his wanton bias in this case was to savo the Government from a very serious rebuff, and so far probably did no great .harm, but his assumption of ignorance of the forms of the House in order that he might gratify his political animus without appearing to betray'the interests of the very class ho professes to specially represent cannot bo very reassuring to his followers. It is, however, all of a piece" with his attitude towards the Liberals, whom he naturally regards as his most formidable opponents at the approaching election, and neither Mr Massev nor Sir Joseph Ward appears to be greately perturbed by the incident. MEMBERS' PAY. The leaders of the old parties both have made tip their minds that the honorarium to members the House is too small a return for the services "chev are expected to render their constituencies and the country, and doubtless the leader of the Social Democratic Parte will be prepared to fall into line with' them in this respect. It is understood that the proposal discussed in 'Cabinet is an increase from £3OO to £<loo a year and some provision for superanniiuation for members who have sat for nine years or longer. _ The general opinion expressed outside the House is that the suggested increase is none too large, so far as the meinbers of the' elected chamber are- concerned, and that some modest superannuation Yor elderlv members would be a reasonable provision." With superannuation, "However, compulsory retirement at a certain age would come up for discussion, and would have a great intimate interest for several prominent members of the present" House. It was predicted some time ago that the new Parliament would contain many more vounir men than the dying one docs, but this is not fore-shadowed by the ao-cs of the candidates already in tho held.

THE END OF THE SESSION. The Prime Minister hopes that.the session will be brought' to a conclusion to-morrow, but to accomplish this members will have to work long hours and confine their attention very closely to the business in hand. The must sit almost continuously from now till the Order Paper is cleared and the Council must exercise an unusual amount of-activity. On the whole Parliament will have put up a very creditable record for the session, and the Labor Partv. as well as" the two older parties, will be able to take credit for the absence of, flagrant bickcrine; and wrangling, and for the expedition with which business has been •pu-t ; through." There has been hasty legislation, of course, and there may be more of it during the next- twenty-four nours, but this sort of thing is inevitable in a Parliament approaching its dissolution. The Government has not been over-bearing during the session, the Opposition has not been obstructive and "the Labor Party has been surprising- self-restrained. Altogether eon-o-ratulations may be exchanged in the fast session with perfect propriety and grace. '