POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14776, 15 October 1921, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

;AN INTERESTING SITTING i THE PRiiVIE MiNISTER'S OPTIiVIJSM. PROPHECY FULFILLED. ! ■ ;Bv Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. His refreshing optimism was allowed its full ben!, in the aftcr-lunciieon speech by the Prime Minister delivered in (lie members of the New Zealand Club yesterday. II suffused the whole political, commercial and industrial landscape and lit up every dark place' along the pessimist's drab horizon. His prophecy concerning wool had been realised, money was more plentiful, trade was reviving, and the people were getting back to work with their coats off. All this was cheering news, and happily it was not without some foundation. Wool prices really were rising, the money market was easier, imports were coming down, while exports were going up, and the country was facing its difficulties wilh a stoui heart. The improvement in the value of wool is at the moment the most acceptable item in tin's agreeable budget of good cheer- If Mr Massey's information is correct. —and he, has it. ha says, on the best authority—the upward tendency will continue and help materially towards the restoration of normal conditions. "The Big Union." In anticipation of the Prime Minister's statement in regard to the business of the Imperial Conference, the galleries were crowded last night and the privileged visitors had no occasion to complain of the fare provided •"■.•r them. Mr Massey at points was just a little involved in his attempt to reconcile the actual functions of a constitutional monarch with the popular conception of a King, but on the whole his speech was clear, concise and intensely interesting. There were a number of interjections of an appreciative and illuminative character as the story progressed, one of the happiest coming from Mr E- P. Howard, the Labour member for Christchurch South, who when the Minister was hesitating for an adequate term to describe the relations between the Mother Country and

her Dominions, suggested, in his droll way, that the Empire was one big union. "That is what the Empire is." ' was Mr Massey's ready acceptance of the suggestion, "and I hope will continue to be one big Empire union for all lime." And such was the temper of the House throughout the brightest sitting of the session. Standard Time Bill. The Minister for Internal Affairs has given notice to introduce the standard Time Bill. The measure was before the House during the 1920 session, but was slill occupying a humble place on the order paper when the session came lo an end. It proposes that New ZeaI land standard lime shall he fixed at. 12 hours in advance of Greenwich lime instead of It) hours, as at present. The practical effect of this change would be lo put forward the clock half an hour. Motor Vehicles Bill. The Motor Vehicles Bill, winch proposes a scale of license fees and makes provision for the control of motor cars and drivers, was discussed at length to-night. The Minister in charge explained that the Bill would provide some of the revenue required for the operation of the Highways Bill to be introduced later in the session. The discussion related largely to arterial roads, and disclosed the existence of a considerable body of opinion in the House against both Bills. Mr Wilford and some other members predicted that fhe Highways Bill would not pass. The Minister said that if it failed the Government would not require the revenue proposed to be raised by motor taxes, and in that case the charges now proposed would be revised. The Biil was read a second time. Imported Fowl Wheat. Complaints have been made during the session that importations of fowl wheat have been badly controlled and importers allowed to charge higher prices than the New Zealand wheatgrowers secure. Mr J. A. Young (Waikato) revived the question, with the result that the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy) spoke in strong terms in reply. He admitted there had been a scarcity of fowl wheat which led to importations, and that there was some difficulty at first about shipping. "I had lo exercise my power as Minister," he continued, "lo stop certain firms from handling wheat because J did not get a straight run. They wanted to carry on some of the games they tried in the previous season, but they were bowled out. I could give the names privately." Mr Young interjected that his complaint came from a poultry association. The Minister retorted that some of the firms connected with the poultry industry did not exercise their permit in the interests of this industry but in favour of a few friends. He thought that when full information was available his questioner would realise there was no cause for the dissatisfaction which seemed to existDeputations Restricted to Thursdays, I It was announced by .Mr Massey this" afternoon that, in future he would re- i ceive deputations on Thursdays only. j