END OF SESSION PROSPECTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 6

END OF SESSION PROSPECTS.

Members, as usual at this stage of the session, are beginning to eet anxious about the date of closing clown on business so that they may escape to their homes. Yesterday the Prime Minister made reference to the position and suggested Friday week as a possible date at which they could finish up the business to be done. No doubt the end might be reached by that date, but it would mean either a heavy slaughter of Bills on the Order Paper or the rushing through,of those measures at break-neck speed. With the Gam- '«•?, '' LlConsin S Bill, and Land Bill yet to ha put through all their stages; the Public Works Statement and Estimates, and the Supplementary Estimates to be considered; the report of the Committee on the Hine charges to be discussed, and the variety of other questions which have been promised attention still to be dealt with, one would require to be of a very sanguine disposition to expect the House to rise at the date named without some very great sacrifices being made. The impression appears to bo gaining ground that the Gaming Bill will pass on to the Statute Book without very much trouble. We do not agree with this view—or rather we are satisfied.that a Gaming Bill which will completely abolish the bookmaker will not get through without a struggle. The light may not concentrate around the clauses relating to bookmakers, but it will take place all the same. Should there be no fight the measure will deserve- to be regarded with deep suspicion, for the bookmakers have powerful friends in high places. The chances of the Licensing Bill are also spoken of more hopefully. It is considered certain that the issues—NoLicense and Prohibition—will be separated and electors will thus be ■ given the opportunity to cast a sep- : arate vote on each. Should this be done, however, a determined effort will probably be made to retain the j three-fifths majority. The Bill, it will be remembered, provides for a ] 55 per cent instead of a 60 per cent Majority being required to carry a poll. No one appears able to say what amendments in the Bill, as it j stands, will be acceptable to either of , fcho extreme parties, but the No- ( License party, it is considered, will , fight hard for separation' 'of the ] issues, and harder still for tho 55 I per cent majority. Whether they t will oppose tho Bill if beaten on f ;ither of these points has not been e lisclosed. Possibly they might con- I :ede the dual issue for the sake of ;ho reduced .majority in the hope of c securing a separation of the issues r it a later date—next session,.for in- n stance. The Liquor party is equally s reticent as to its views on'suggested ji possibilities in the way of amend- s nont; and in the circumstances the n Drospects of the Bill passing in anyihing like its present form, appear a rery doubtful. The fate of the Land n Bill- will depend entirely on tho si imendmonts made in it in Commit- ti «e.' It certainly will not pass in its j| iresent form and if amended to meet j 1 he freehold section of tho House will jjj

be bitterly opposed by_ tho leaseholders. Much doubt is felt as to

whether the Bill will even reach the Committee stage, and the probabilities point to it being numbered amongst the "slaughtered innocents." ihe Prime Minister has had a very strenuous, and in some respects a very disheartening, session. He has been defeated again and again, on policy matters—only last night he was again beaten on an. important proposal in one of his Bills—and his prestige as a leader and political tactician has been badly shaken. Never before has the mana of _ the Government stood as low as it is at

tho present moment. No doubt, in these circumstances, Sir ■■ Joseph Ward would be glad to bring the session to a close without taking any

risks of further rebuffs. Ho cannot do this if' ho attempts to force through all three of the Bills mentioned. ' .