POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 28 June 1920, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

NO CONFIDENCE. OPPOSITION LEADER’S TEST. fFr.uu Our Cobkzsfokoent.] WELLINGTON, June 2G. Supporters of the Government seem rather pleased than otherwise at tho sudden appearance of a. inj-eonfidcnre motion this session.' They declare that Mr Mac Donald has. forced the pace, so as to jockey the Labour .Party out of the lead in such a. move, hut they forget that there are frequent opportunities of challenging the Government and that Air Mac Donald, has simply taken the first one, regardless of the tact that the Liberals arc. not in their full' strength in tho House. The motion may have tho rcsuU of putting uncertain members ‘‘on side'’—but it would be equally competent'for them to stay array from (he division. This'is likely to happen in some of tho most interesting case-;, for there are members with specific grievances against the Administration, but they would prefer to vote against it on a definite subject of complaint rather than a. purely party motion, such as the loader of tho Opposition has tabled. Of the former cave ” in the Reform Parly, three of its leading members ore in the Ministry today) but some of their old colleagues in the revolt remain outside, nursing a grievance on which the hopes of a, iW party are being founded. Apparently the Opposition leader was not considering this prospect of support when ho prepared his straight-out motion of noconfidence. Had he been studying tactics, he would have taken n. friendly hand in Air Statliaiu's amendment, which bases itself on the principle of the elective Executive, a principle which tho Re term Party, under stress of tho circumstance of a narrow majority in last Parliament seemed to be putting into practice. Its caucus had », powerlul voice in the make-up of .Cabinet, but the. Prime Minister has reasserted his constitutional prerogative, and now takes the sole responsibility for Ministerial appointments. Further no-con-lidenco motions are being talked of in tho lobbies, tbc test questions being administration ami the high cost of living. On onp, or other of these subjects the Labour Party will no cioubr tako an opportunity of dividing the House. DELUGE OF POSTCARDS. Something of tho methods of the sutfragetttes is being imported into a, Wellington women’s movement, of protest against the high coefc of livinc.' It is intended during the coming week to sliou er postcards on * A\ elhngtoii members, from a, largo number of their female constituents, bearing brief but pointed messages of reminder that they must do what they can to induce tho cost- of the necessaries of life. The visitation is duo to commence on Monday, but at the time of wiring the unfortunate members arc unaware of what is in store for them. SHIPPING GRIEVANCE. Among 7a. number of hardships which waster bakers represented lo the” Hon E. P. Lee. President of tbc Board of Trade, in tho course of their deputation to urge higher “ controlled ” prices for bread, tbc difficulties of 'Wanganui

S’? JjW' od pbomineuTly. Mr Bernik inert on al' 13 - mc? th f de h j u tatiou had S 7 the Government 5r\ t0 an Sanui. from the had gono up by 4s per ton, wbun enabled the merchants to make a htiL harvest by ‘passing it on” at os causing flour to cost £IS os oer ton I ban tho snipping company wantnm to Caatlecllf. & and a bait miles-down tho river, and requested baaers lo take flour off the slings winch would mean os per ton loi extra haulage. “The Canterbury Me am s rap company eccas to 'bo mng Wmganui into a, dead end.” sain Urn speairov. “ They have nut freights up and made conditions as bad as they cam they complain about congested sbeds at Vangamu, but for-eight weeks tuey sent- no boat, and the sheds were empty all the time.” Tbc Minister in his brief -eplv to’tha deputation made no Inference "to thi* grievance. • lATTELTON GAOL SITE. The Hon E. P. Leo, Minister of JusLeo, has promised th ß member for Lvtt Lou, Mr .... M-Combs, that’he will take an early opportunity to visit Lvtl\rtrttI lt cT°,T^ ek "^ fr t0 meet the ip tteltou School Lorn mit tec and inspect the prison site. The Minister of Education. tn e Hon C. J. Parr’, has asked vied 1 hv* tS :ereDP ? ° f t he P ro P ert T ocelli' 100 b > tbc , and warders’ residences for educational purposes. SUPERANNUATION AND PENSIONS. firrtdnvS r’ men - ed i° arriTc on ot thc se ®W3i from superarmii. If! 1 '’P’enmient employees claimiim iu . .leased allowance owing to depreciation ° leTKll ' T . ll0? lir S° th at as old mease the petitioners ’hare a greater te fisf* >’• Lons Ol J y their oTvn contribute ii €' pons !° nci ' cl «>* came oauc am House by wav of questions by members, who consider further increases desirable. J CURTAILED SUPPLIES. cuml^T 1 " 0 !' llrCatoU£d a-heavy sard llCU " lree supplies of “ H ai ;. i * th ’ s >’ ear . owing to the paper shortage. It is also intended to rcdvico P-irl St 0 papers presented to Tarhameut An indication that tho Government, really means business in U.s economy campaign i 3 the notice puon by tho Hon G J. Anderson, MinMet m cuargo of the Printing Office o set up a Printing Debates Committee several weeks ahead of other sele-t con mittees. ’