THE COMING SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 831, 1 June 1910, Page 6

THE COMING SESSION.

A LENGTHY PROGRAMME. . LAND TENURE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT. OTHER IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. How long will the coming session last? It will all depend, of course, upon the amount of business which the Government brings down. If nil the proposals of which notice has at one time or another been given by the Government arcdealt with, the session will probably be of record length. In some quarters it is- suggested that if tho coronation of King George V is fixed for an early date the session may bo cut short in order to enable tho Dominion to bo represented by its Prime Minister. That Sir Joseph would ask that Parliament be again adjourned this year is, however, unlikely. At any rate ho has, so far, not even hinted that such will bo the case. In political circles tho general opinion is that the session will occupy at least four months, and that it will prove very strenuous. What gives rise to this view is not only the amount of legislation that has been promised, but the fact that tho present House has shown a decided inclination not to allow a measure to reach the Statute Book until alter it has , been well discussed. Then, again, a promise has been given that more time will be set apart this session for the consideration of private and local Bills, of which a largo number had to be "jettisoned" last year. Extinction of. the Public Debt. Among the most important to be introduced will bo a comprehensive, scheme having for its object the liquidation of the national debt. It is proposed io set apart a sum of, approximately, .CIiG.OOO per nnnuin which, if invested at 4 per cent., would result in sufficiently large accumulations to wipe oil' tho existing national debt of .£70,000,000 by the end of 75 years. As regards all future loans which may be raised it is also proposed to adopt the same principle. It is contended, on behalf of the Government, that if such a scheme bo inaugurated it will help the credit of. the Dominion and. secure better terms in the case of loans requiring to be renewed before the end of the period when they will, be repaid. The method of investment of the proposed sinking fund is bound to occasion considerable discussion. From the Government point of view it is urged' that the best results will be obtained if the money is lent to local bodies and settlers. On the other hand it will, no doubt,- be contended that no such scheme will likely be of a permanent and successful nature unless the funds aro invested in Imperial consols, or in a similar security, or at any rate unless an independent body is appointed to administer the funds. Local Government. . Looking through the Government programme, one next finds a "distinct promise to introduco n Local Government Bill this session. That such a measure is an urgent necessity has long been recognised, but its appearance has so long been deferred, that when the Prime Minister intimated last session that such a Bill would' for certain bo dealt with this year, the announcement was greeted with ironical laughter. Upon this important subject, Sir Joseph, in his Winton speech said: "The problem to be solved is how to effectively bring about the reduction of the large number of existing public bodies, and to give them sufficiently wide powers to meet the requirements of the people they serve. I am quite satisfied that the system under which subsidies are granted should be completely altered, and that under the altered proposals an increased amount should be given, and inducement held out for the establishment of comparatively large county councils, giving them wider and greater powers than at present." Last session a number of members strongly urged that such an important measure should be circulated during, the recess, but the Prime Minister re-' plied that ho could not make a promise to do so, owing to the time which would bo nece&sary for a full consideration of the other Bills, to say nothing of the time that would be necessary in connection with the drafting of them. It is proposed to ask Parliament to affirm certain principles by. resolution, and upon this having been done,. the Bill will be introduced.

Tho National Annuities Scheme Of the other important Bills held over from Inst se'ssion there is the National Annuities Bill. It makes provision in cases of accident or sickness for every worker whoso income is less than .£2OO per annum. Every such worker who belongs to the fund will have paid to him in the event of being incapacitated by sickness or accident an allowance of 7s. od. per week for each child under the age of fourteen (luring the period of incapacity. "When he reaches the ago of GO lie will have an annuity for the rest of his life. In this connection-it may be mentioned that the Prime.Minister lias announced that he is endeavouring to devise a workable provision ' which is called in the Old World "Maternity Assurance," under which by payment of so small a sum as twopence per week tlie total loss to tho household including the wages which would have been earned by the mother, and all expenses connected with maternity, are recouped to her. Under such a scheme, it is held a great reduction in infant mortality is secured. It is also proposed that by payment of quite a small sum per week mothers who become widowed may be provided with a sufficient sum to support them whilst they are rearing their children. Land Tenure. If the Government fulfils its promise to reintroduce the Land Bill, a "battle royal" on the subject of land tenure may be expected. This measure (it will be recalled) proposes to secure to the Government in return for the grant of tho freehold part of the unearned increment, but it is not to apply to lands for settlements land. When the Bill was before the House last session it evoked the antagonism of the leaseholders, who declared that they would oppose the granting of the freehold on any terms at every point whilst the Opposition indicated that the Bill would not meet with their approval unless the freehold wore granted in respect of all Crown lands excepting National Endowment lands, and at the original value, the tenant paying the.difference in the interest between the two systems at present in force. In withdrawing the measure last session, the Prime "Minister remarked: "It is a Bill that, will take a very much longer time • than is ' possible to give the necessary attention to it (t> put it on the Statute- Book this year." Touch-ing upon the question of land tenure at Winton recently, Sir Joseph remarked:—"No Land Bill which does not contain this principle (Slate to share increased value) will satisfy the vast majority of tho fair-minded people of this country." ■ If would appear that tho Government is, however, now prepared to be less exacting, for. ho added:—"lt may be that the shape it took in the Land Bill of last year will require modification; but a Lund Bill containing tho same principle will be submitted this session/' Whether it will bo persisted in is another matter. Defence, In consequence of the adoption by the Government of the recommendations inado by Lord Kitchener further additions Hind amendments to the Defence Bill will require to be made. One of the most important alterations will bo tho increasing of the age limit for compulsory training in the goneral training section from 21 to 25 year?. It is also inlendeil to put into operation lord Kitcfener's system of "areas" and to adopt tho "quota" system as recommended by him. If the Commonwealth consents to the proposal, it is also suggested to mako provision for the sending of cadets to tho Military College to be established in Australia. Then, again, it is proposed to deal with the harbour defences in tho manner suggested in tho Field-Marshal's recommendations. It is not improbable Unit the amendments will contain rel'mnw l<) the duties «V the new; Commandant; also, the question of tho .general control of the whole α-heine.

According to tho Prime Minister, the' total cost of tho new defence scheme, inclusive of the proposals made by Lord Kilchener, and in addiliou jCoO.OOU per annum for three years for special equipments, will amount to 0:350,000 to X-100,000 per annum. Rivers and Lakes. Legislation will also be introduced for the complete 'control by the Government of tho rivers and lakes in New Zealand for water supply power purposes. Tor this purpose the Government will ask that a sum of .£500,000 per annum be set aside. It is proposed to undertake the establishment of power stations at suitable points io siipiily'rhiKc wlio need the u*o of water or power for mining, manufacturing electric power, and other purposes. According to the Prime -Minishv, tho linvcrnnient will be able to supply the water or power at a very much dimmer rate than it could be possible I'm- public companies or private persons to supply it at. Under the new scheme the proposal to allow companies to nso water for the generation of electrical power at an annual rental will of necessity cease. It is interesting to note that tho Government claim that not only the miner of sparse means but also the big syndicates will benefit under their proposals. Special provision will, it is understood, bo inserted in the measure with the object of furthering irrigation in various parts of tho Dominion. Question of Licensing Reform. Will a licensing Bill be introduced this session? It is very problematical. According to various members of the Government, it is futile to endeavour to secure licensing reform unless the NoLicense party and the Trade come to a complete understanding upon the basis of tho proposals. Last year (it will be remembered) the two parties conferred at length in regard to various suggested alterations in tho existing law, but ultimately "fell out." It is reported that tiie question of securing further legislation under this heading will again be the subject of negotiation shortly. The Prime Minister hinted last session that a general licensing Bill might be brought down this session. He indicated on that occasion that it would contain provisions giving the people of tho King Country the right to vote on licensing matters under the local option system. Mr. T. E. Taylor inquired if the Natives wore to be permitted to vote on the question, but Sir Joseph would not commit himself. It may be of interest, to add that in his Winton speech the Prime Minister made no reference to the question of licensing reform. Land Valuation. Land valuation and taxation are likely to be the subject of legislative proposals. Not long ago the Prime Minister declared that in his opinion it would be better to have the revaluation of land throughout the Dominion effected every four years, instead of having ths> work done at irregular periods as at present. Suitable provision should, of course, be made for revaluations to be taken within the period .fixed should it be found at any time necessary. Under his proposals, instead of sending out the land tax notices every year to bo filled in, it would bo sufficient to forward claims for the amount of land tax for the previous year. The application of the graduated tax in its effect upon industrial concerns in towns and cities is also to be considered. In this regard the. Prime Minister snys that it was never intended that a tax imposed in order to bring about closer settlement of landed areas should militate against those industries concerned in towns and cities which require to have sums of money small or large, as the case may be, invested in them so as to ensure their successful carrying on, and upon whose success the employment cf large numbers of peonle is dependent. It is proposed to roee't the difficulty in question whilst maintaining the graduated land tax upon largo areas- of land or where land is in the aggregate o' a uigh value. Industrial Legislation. The legislative proposals also include , various amendments affecting the industrial law. It is doubtful, however, whether .the Government will attempt to alter tho Arbitration and Conciliation Act. "If it came up on the door of the House," remarked the Hon. J. A. Millar

to a deputation recently, ."you could never tell where tho discussion would end." It is proposed to limit preference to financial members of a union, as unions havo in tho past had difficulty in numerons cases in collecting their subscriptions. Another point which it has been decided to legislate about is as to when a worker is to be deemed to be dismissed. Then again a provision is to bo inserted to prevent various forms of contract work which, it is alleged, really servo to defeat the ends of awards. The lack of uniformity in fines, especially those imposed by magistrates,- may also give rise to other alterations in the .law. For some timo there has been talk of an unemployed insurance scheme, but such, it would appear, is not likely to eventu.ite this year. There will, however, probably be proposals which will aim at preventing congestion of unemployment in ono district, whilst work is available in another.

A Host of Other Measures. The Government has also promised to introduce a number of other measures, including an Anti-Trust Bill, which will deal principally with what is alleged to be a monopoly in the oil and kerosene trade; an electoral Bill, under which provision will be made for a' better system of compiling the rolls, and non-voters will have their names removed; a measure to give effect to a proposal to substituto the post-audit system for' the pre-audit system; a proposal under which the procedure in the case of local. bodies who require to borrow money will be simplified; amendments to the libel law; proposals whereby the growth -of beet sugar will be encouraged; a Betterment Bill in connection with the railways; legislation to finally dispose of the Meikle case; a Gaming Bill, under which the totallsator and the bookmakers will be discussed; further legislation dealing with prison reform; a Mining Amendment Bill; a Tramways Bill; and a Harbours' Amendment Bill.