The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1910. WORK AHEAD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 903, 24 August 1910, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1910. WORK AHEAD.

The proceedings 'in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon were both interesting and instructive. The long-delayed question of the selection of a Chairman of Committees was settled, and, as we had anticipated, the Prime Minister was able, with the assistance of MR. Colvin, to manoeuvre his party into line. It is satisfactory to know that the'position is at last filled and that the business of Parliament will now be able to proceed in a proper manner. It was appropriate in the circumstances that Sir Joseph Ward should be called on to give some indication as to- when he proposed to bring- forward the really important Bills of the session; and to explain the intentions of the Government in regard to the'work which is still before the.House. Mr. Massey, who questioned the Prime Minister on-these points, • particularly wanted to know when the Land Bill was coming down and when tho Local Government Bill could be looked for. He probably was told quite as much' as ho expected—possibly a little more. Despite his success in bringing his party into line on the question of which of their number should be Chairman of Committees, .it was very plain to those present that, the Prime Minister was not in the best of humours. Even success may be too dearly bought,- and possibly when the full facts of the. means adopted to secure the practically unanimous support of the Government .party for Mr, Colvin are made known, the reason for Sin Joseph Ward's irritableness will be better understood. In any case he probably said a little more about the intentions of the Government regarding its Land Bill than he intended when he 'first rose to his feet. The subject is one on which Ministers naturally are extremely touchy and it must be admitted that Mr. Massey does not always study their feelings in his justifiably contemptuous references to the Government "land policy." From the'.manner in which Sir Joseph Ward hit back yesterday it would seem that there is to be a departure from tho Bill of last session aimed "at those who are supposed to support the Eeform party outside of Parliament. Front the tone of- the Prijik Minister's remarks,: coupled with hints' which have been dropped from time to time _by members of the Government, it appears very probable that the departure referred to will-be found to go in the direction of taxing any future increment in land values. It has been suggested in more than oue quarter tEat should the Government find public feeling too strong for it, and Ministers be forced to yield to the demand for the freehold, the leasehold element in the-Government following might be placated, by the introduction of an increment tax. This tax is designed to penalise freeholders and so would be welcomed by the .leasehold minority. As the Land Bill is promised for next week and the exact proposals of the Government will then be available it is hardly worth while discussing the subject now in detail. But if tho Government's latest change of front on the land question should prove to be on the lines indicated above, Ministers will find themselves confronted with neiy dangers even more embarrassing than those •to escape from which they have already shown themselves ready to sacrifice every shred ot political principle.