THE SESSION'S WORK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 8

THE SESSION'S WORK.

':'■'■ :; >;.' ; : : i '^-~+—~-r— .' • ■ ■•■'. ■: ■; -i - views/of MR. MAssEY.:■; :;;•' '■;-. -\'.'" : :'r . .; '.;..';'. : " v::'/ ,, -.' v- ' ..iOCALr GOVERNJrENT REFORM. ■ ■ ;; :;.; ; i, ,v .': :;r Shelved. ' : :; ; .'- \ : v' -: ' 'The lobby is,'agog "with-'speculation ■';..{ is to the "nature, of ,'the Land Bill which ~.' ■!:the Government is .bringing down.. This .' ''.-is: duo to..the announcement that the ; ■■■-'■! measure..will see • the light-.within the : ..'next ,few r : :days, the "importance ;of the ■ ■-; issue; involved • anil ..the extraordinary ;-.'■ : vacillation'- wjiich . has been. • shown. by '.-'.'-, the Government .in dealing with this '.-."' ; -■ "; ';■ ]' : :?.j':- ..-.':..'■. .■■ ■ . ■■■' : . "The' Frinib'Minister was extromely ~ with regard to the pro- ' • :' visions'' of the Land / -Bill,",: ■ remarked ■ Mr.i-.~,Ma's'sey. u>. a Dominion" reporter ■■■'.. yesterday; "though I expect it will be :,.- : on somewhat similar lines .to' the- Bill .' -of last: year. With:, the .Hoiise. of 'Representatives,'; as at present, ...containing .■nearly ajij equal number, of leaseholders : ,';-■ and freeholders,.l dp not think there is. .-';_';• imiclr chance .of a'Land .Bill' getting . ; through • containing • any..;/ important ..-changes .in the present : law. It is true, i ..of course/ that,a; good, majority of the . : ';. members^- are pledged to siipport the ■ then, it is freehold with »■'■•.; certain" reservations. which enable them ;,.i..to'findva,w.ay out when the actual.ques- ■ .: tion is '• submitted.to \ the. vote." ■.',:! Commenting on'tho statement of the .'.Prime..Minister that ho did not expect V'the Local.Govcrnmentßill.to,gp through "... .-this, session, Mr. Massey. remarked that ,'.. during.tho last few.wceks he had.come ';'.■■'to tho.'.conclusion that therb was .riot -~ ;tho slightest, chancer-of -any compre- ;'■.-' hensiyd.. Local Government Bill 'passing . .into law'this session.: It would, be cir- '!' :Culated'in the same , way as happened ■ !•.";.• oii one,'.or two, previous occasions, .'.and. ,-■ the', matter would'.be propped..for the ; : .; time being. Then, as next session! was , - tho one preceding the general, election, : ; .iand therefore a short session,..neither .';. , ; \thc : _Government nor members '.would be j .;■:. incliriedjq'go.on;with a measure which .; .would take,weeks, and perhaps'months,. . ;to deal with. .He regarded/ local gov■■•;'.Brmneiiti'refonh'. as: being' .shelved for .'■;. tho time; being. ."I. need hardly, say," .. ; he added; "that I; regret .this bxceed- ,." ingly." :.;;';:■:;•• .^';-,v':-'.. . .■: . ' Mr. Massey agrees..with ;Sir. Joseph / Ward's-suggestion : that-- the House ;. .should by midnight. "1 ':■: have always', .been; in favour of this,". •'.:.'■ said .'Mi-.jMas'spy,:"but:'what. we have .-'. ', to avoid is the- waste , . of."time which : ' takes; place; right, up- to , : the :,.:.; last'mbiith, and then the mad rush .to :;,:.: finish on v a certain ..date, when ■ tfie V . Horise sits, : almost; 'night- ■'• and''day . for ;■ /■"■.■■ weeks'at a stretch.■.lμ.sure'.l speak ';. ; \ for; many .members. whbii;. 1: say that:'. I -; should prefer'that the session" last.'a ; ■ weelif or ;two longer rather thari; have " ?. this.; Personally I do riot see any reason ;,..■' .-why, with... prop'er;.. management,' wo '■■';-. .finish, the business, of . •■;■•;. Bessiqh" by,-_th'e 'fir>t' of' November,, even" .'.allowing for thoyHoiise keeping ''good ■ tours, and hasty legislation." ■