POLITICAL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 16784, 12 July 1911, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER. MR HOGG’S VIEWS. OPENING OP PARLIAMENT. good deal of curiosity Is evinced as to whether Sir Wm. Hall-Jones will be given another term of office as High Commissioner, or whether there will be a new appointee. His term of office has J’ist expired, but it has been extended until the 31st August. It Is stated that there is now no ground for his retirement On the ground of 111-health. Indeed. he Is said to be in as good health as ever he was. Sir James Carroll says that nothing will be done in the matter until Sir' Joseph Ward’s return to New Zealand. Local politicians think that if a change is to be made It will not be fiiade until after the general election. ■ Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P. for Masterton, Who was In Auckland for an hour or two on Saturday, had something to say to a pressman on the political outlook, particularly from the democratic standpoint. “ r certainly think there will be a material change brought about at the text general election,” he said, “and one that will be for the betterment of the country, and likely to make for the establishment of a strong democratic party. The party I speak of,” went on the member for Masterton, “would generally be opposed to the present Opposition. and It certainly will not approve of the Ministry as it is now constituted. There are a number of sweeping reforms urgently needed, while there is a noticeable and absolute want of courage to tackle them on the part of those who are the leaders of the people and the leaders of Parliament. I think the reins will have to be grasped with a firm hand in order to put down some of the small but active monopolies that are exploiting the masses. Take, for instance, some of those things that the Government claims to have brought about, but which are islmply forced into existence by public opinion when the Government has held hack. Our State coal mines up ■to the present have never been properly worked, and to the masses State coal is practically impossible. I consider that the price could have been materially reduced if the Government had held its own vessel, and worked its mine as it could work it. Not only the workers and commissioners, but the manufacturers and the whole country, would be able to obtain cheaper coal. Everyone would, in fact, benefit immensely. In the meantime the Government is making no attempt whatever to work its mine as it should work it. Private enterprise blocks the way. and all through the piece I reckon the Government has for years past shown far more consideration for private enterprise than for the industrial population. There are many things that require reform, and I think we shall soon have a party to effect some of it.” The Hon. Mr George Fowlds. Minister of Education, who is at present in Rotorua, taking baths for a slight attack of rheumatism, was seen by a "Times” reporter on Monday. Referring to the paragraph that appeared on the sth Inst, in a southern newspaper, as ;k)llows: —“The Minister (the Hon. Geo. jyowlds) has reiterated on a public platform the charge that Mr Massey, Leader of the Opposition, fathered the unauthorised biography of Sir Joseph Ward.”— Mr Fowlds remarked that It seemed to him that at the present time the Opposition speakers and newspapers were prepared to go to any lengths in the matter of misstatements. Regarding the particular statement referred to. it was without the slightest foundation in fact. On the contrary, what he did say, in effect, when speaking on the matter, was that he had never heard Mr Massey blamed personally for having had anything to do with the inception of the circulation of the Black pamphlet, but that the indictment against the Opposition generally was that, whilst they knew it was In circulation, and that their party were likely to benefit from it. they took no steps to condemn It. "That was,” Mr Fowlds added, “quite a different statement from the one now f being circulated by the Opposition newspapers.” It has been decided that the last session of the present Parliament shall be commenced on the 27th inst. As Kir Joseph Ward is still in England, lie cannot very well be here until Parliament has been in session for two or three weeks. A somewhat stormy session is anticipated, as the Opposition are very active, and the Government have laid themselves open to more telling criticism than usual. Some members state that the session will be a very short one, but Others express the opinion that the work to be done will take at least about three months to do it. ■ It will be necessary to get an Imprest Bill through immediately after the assembling of Parliament. There is sure to be some discussion both in regard to finance and other matters on this bill. Following the passing of the Supply P.ill will come the Address-in-Reply debate. This may take a considerable time, or it may be got over in a day or two, but the Chances are that members generally will seize the opportunity afforded of talking to their constituents through the medium of the press and of Hansard. The really Important business will, of course, be held over until the return of Kir Joseph Ward and Sir John Findlay. The Oamaru “Mail” states authoritatively that Mr R. Milligan, late Mayor it Oamaru, will be a candidate at the general election. Mr Milligan, it is rumoured, was offered the Opposition ticket, but refused that offer, and if lie stands at all it will be in the Government interest. The following resolution, which was not reported by the Press Association, was carried at the conclusion of Mr Massey’s speech at Wellington last Thursday:—"That the people of Wellington, assembled in public meeting, thank Mr Massey for his able and instructive address, and endorse the policy which ne has expounded: and, further, express the opinion that the time has arrived when, in the interests of good government and wise legislation, the electors of the dominion should take prompt steps to have the present Government removed from office.”