PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15274, 26 June 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE. TIM E-WASTI NQ TALK. ALL PARTIES RESPONSIBe^E. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Monday. The House of Representatives adjourned on Friday night without any indication from cither side as to how long the debate on tire Address-in-Reply and on the various amendments by which it has been intercepted will continue. The curious thing about the proceedings so far has been the readiness of the Reform members to join in the time-wasting talk. If they have not bean encouraged ■by the party whips to speak, they certainly have not been restrained. In these circumstances it is not surprising that all sorts o? stories are afloat concerning Mr Massey’s tactics and their purpose. There is the old suggestion, of course, that the House is being allowed to squander time now in order that it may be driven at a break-neck speed during the last week or two of the shortened session. Then there is the tale that the Government’s “ no-confldence majority ” is not so secure as it was at the last trial of strength between the parties, and a third that negotions between Mr Massey and a section of the Liberals are in progress that may make it necessary for the Prime Minister to insist upon the prorogation before he leaves for London. ‘ Public Feeling. Whatever the truth of the matter may be it is plain that while the Reformers in the House continue to join in .the “ wearisome iteration ” of the debate they must bear their full share of responsibility for the waste of time that is going, on. Nor can the Prime Minister himself be held blameless in Iho matter. He has the members of his party far too well in hand to allow them to prolong a debate that he wishes to shorten. But all this apart, fhere can be no reasonable doubt that the great weight of public opinion here favours Mr Massey going to London as the representative of the Dominion at the approaching Imperial Conference. This is not merely because he happens To be the Prime Minister of the country at the present time, but more particularly because he has made himself a figure in Imperial politics and has won the confidence as well as the personal goodwill of the authorities at Home. The Labour memb*ers of the House may demand that he shall go "as a delegate and not as a dictator,” and the Liberals may declare that he no longer represents a majority of the electors, but everyone knows perfectly well that there’ is no one else so well qualified to express the mind of New Zealand on Imperial affairs. Tljere is every reason why the urgent work of Parliament should be completed before his departure, but there is none why unnecessary obstacles should be placed in his way.

The National Government. The local papers on Saturday published a further contribution from Sir Joseph Ward to the controversy g-oing on between the Prime Minister and himself in regard to the finances of the country, in which he explains how he came to withdraw from the National Cabinet on his return with Mr Massey from the Peace Conference in 1919. It seems that Sir Joseph was bent upon keeping intact the surpluses he had accumulated as Minister of Finance during the war period, and upon issuing 41 per cent, debentures for such land as it might be necessstfy to purchase for soldier settlement. By this means he lioped to keep the 16 or li' millions he had in the Treasury available for financing the country through a difficult period, and to acquire land for the soldiers without inflating prices to the disadvantage of both the country and the men themselves. But this plan did not meet with the approval of Mr Massey and his Reform colleagues, and as Sir Joseph was insistent lie and the other Liberal Ministers had no alternative to retiring from the Cabinet. Mr Massey’s version of s the story still has to be heard, and it will be awaited with much interest by people who have followed the controversy between the two party leaders. “ Lord Massey.” Sir Thomas Mackenzie is shaping the Prime Minister’s destiny along lines which probably never have entered the head of the right honourable gentleman himself. Sir Thomas would have Mr Massey go Home as the representative of New Zealand at the Imperial Conference, and at the conclusion of the labours of that august assembly would have him accept the peerage the. King would gladly bestow upon him and remain in England as the Dominion’s mouth-piece in the House of Lords. Sir Thomas is quite serious in his suggestion, indeed he puts it forward in the firm belief that nothing could serve tlje interests of this country belter than its direct representation in the Legislature of the Empire; but Mr Massey regards the idea as a huge joke, and, with the greatest regard for the time-honoured institutions of the Motherland, is not feverishly excited at the prospect of exchanging his present position for a seat in the House of Lords. It is quite safe to assume that had the Prime Minister’s ambitions been in the direction of titular distinction they would have been gratified long ago. The Deadly Crossings.

Level crossing accidents were dealt with by Sir John Luke (Wellington North) when speaking in the Hoir'se. He said he thought the Railway Department, through the Minister, should bring down a report showing what it would cost to put in overhead crossings at the most important crossings throughout New Zealand. He knew it would cost a good deal but the toll of life at the present time was disastrous. Many of the crossings in New Zealand were too close to each other, and he thought some of them could be done away with. If the high level crossings would be too expensive then powerful bells should be installed. The small linking bells at the crossings now were not loud enough to be heard, because most of the vehicles passing over crossings were motors. Reform’s Strongest Minister. Who is Reform’s strongest Minister? Speaking in the Rouse ol Representatives last night Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) stated: “During the’ Oarnaru by-election Lite Prime Minister referred to the Hon. E. P. Lee as his second strongest Minister. I suppose he wanted the other Ministers to keep on guessing who was the strongest. The Prime Minister is certainly a wily old tactician.” The Prime Minister: “ I never made such a statement.” Mr Atmore: “The papers said you did.” The Prime Minister: “They were wrong.” Mr Atmore: ‘‘Then they merely gave you credit for’more cunning than you actually possess.”