THE SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 937, 3 October 1910, Page 5

THE SESSION.

* LOBBY NOTES; GALLERY GOSSIP, LAND BILL NOT BEING HURRIED, LIBERAL FREEHOLDERS DELIBERATING. Among the topics which hays engaged a good deal of attention-during the weekend is tho question of Mr. Hine's charges. It in-some quarters that Mr. Hino will refuse to appear before tho committee which has been appointed to consider tho matter, hut this is not the view held in usually well-informed circles. When tho committee meets on Wednesday morning tho Hist business will, of course, be to elect a chairman, and in N this connection tho name of Mr. Myers, the new M.P. for Auckland East, is freely mentioned. As time will necessarily have to bo' given" to the parties aifected to enable them to prepare their cases it is probable that the committee will, after settling the method of procedure, adjourn for some days. LIBERAL FREEHOLDERS AND LAND SILL. ,So far the Lands Committee has not had time to enter upon the consideration of the new Land Bill. For some days ' it has been hearing evidence in regard '. to a Drainage Bill affecting the Taieri district. It is probable, however, that a start f vnll be made on the Land Bill this week. That the measure will receive a warm time on its return to tha House is becoming more, and more evident. Members of tho Opposition arc not likely to agree to the proposal that Crown tenants of all but national endowment lands shall receive the freehold only upon payment in addition to the original valuo of the land of a stiff increment tax. Nor do members of tho Opposition view with! favour the suggestion that tho Stats should be allowed to take over estates on-the terms proposed 'in th.9 measure; , But the hostility to the Bill is by no means confined to members of the Oppo- • , sition party. The leasehold section will < not, of course, hear of the State beingi allowed to part with another acre of [ Crown land. Then, again, freeholders * on tho Government side make no secret ■ of the fact that they are not pleased with ■ • the Bill. For some time past members v , „ of this section of the Government party havo been,meeting in conclave to discuss > ~ what attitude they should adopt when the j k Bill comes before the House. How many > J '; are taking part at these gatherings is * not known, but some are holding aloof, moro than one having openly stated that ' ho intends to\ keep his pledge to vote for/ the granting of the freehold on reason- \ i - able terms. Tho general impression in 1 the lobbies is that the Bill won't bo re- ' turned to tho House for a fortnight at least. '■'

"DRIVING" AT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS. In view of the allegations of speeding* up at tho Newmarket railway workshops, a statement made by Mr T. K Sidey in. the House on Saturday morning is interesting. Mr. Sidcy said figures had been given hini to prove there was driving ai the Hillsido workshops, in Duncdm. Soma time ago tho number of hours occupied in building two wagons was twenty-threa hours. The pace was gradually increased till two wagons were built in twenty hours, and now they were turned out in -. 17£ hours. In reply, the Minister ' for Railways (the Hon. J.\ A Millar) said there was no driving. Mr Sidey's figures would seem to show that the men had not been doing a fair thing before There was no speedmg-up, but if after trial a man would not do as fair a day's' work - for thß Eailway Department as ho would ■> for a prnat© emplojer he could not be retained. Mr. Millar added that he had received no complaints from tho, ASJtS. |

■-'KSa^E^ARKAbI^ .There lis : a-good;deal 'of .the "lobbies ::with: regard'to./a", .'statement;-: |?i;;s;? made'lby the Prime Ministerin: the: cbursß;oli;:|% of thVdcDate'-on'the-Estimates on'foidajvfa'S; night,:' to tho:effect L'that-b6;;had ;in< :poss«CTo'n--'a : "'-list:.\bf;VaUv^...the;: : ::accfliint» i .:;,:i;:si which .'were:: wiped; off Vty:' the 7 Bahfcof';?£ '■££;. . New: .■ at', the; time' of 'tho? trouble;- > »:?* through ; ;w"hieh ; : it ..passed.' iky the,middle ;i'^;:'i , ;i: /nineties! ; ' V' It' is: ppiited .outj'thatlthifl/iJ;j?*|i information 1 "-iras-i.'spociaUy '■-'. asljed. foft.^byi;-*.y;y r 'f;> tho':Banking : : in^."^B9S;H i ahd's.iVK Sh .'refused 1 to "them :by: the,Ba'n||:' : '■Zealandi'authorities.'A'lt,was • j)ri! : accpiihti':"'S;H of ■• his refusal toi; giveVthe {kmiimttee ;,aM •the''House; this .'information; /ji'that.!.:Watson',: the:: then, president of;} the: Bank of : %ewi Zealand,, was^fined; fat:tioV'uH/i;;;! • Bar;of "■■ the*Housed:,ln:;reply»to -'a/query s£ ivs ,byMr.'.T.;E;!'.Taylor,-thePrihieiMinistw.va\ said-that'the information had^come'/intoxv his";pos£ession:;offlcially^V.;To?;Kthis'::'-Mr.:: ; g:gS Tayjor7rejoined:'that:';bi''wasJialmost :'i&7'?;;>,j;y clined' to': reyivej:th6"whple: ; although it' had' been;dea~d''sc&e : yearis.';:ijrt^;/i|j

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. - The member for Wellington East (Jfe, i v D. Mlaren) intends to ask tne Prime i" Minister whether the * Government has any intention to bring down 1 this sessioa r legislative proposals dealing with thoI',1', problem of unemployment as affecting ~ bodies of workmen either in the way or , -, (1) an insurance to provide against tin- ' employment occurring in connection with those employed in skilled tradas; (2) the setting aside of reserves of land on which _ the labour of men out of employment may be utilised to the advantage of the State and also the workmen and their de- - pendents; (3) any scheme for the regula-"., tion of employment in seasonal and other trades so as to secure greater regularity of employment throughout the year ana prevention of stagnation during the winter months; and (4) any other plan deemed necessary. ,