POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

Th'E END. AND THE COMING KCs'H. There is a general imP rcssi l on / 1^ r t t( ?"' liamont will rise at (he end ol October and it is slated by some who claim to know more than others that- t'.io Gove l - ment will make an cftovt to get the ness through by (hat time. Of old hand" who can look back ovqi eiMjt Parliaments says Unit if tho session ends before November !>, it will be the fi . - time within his recollection. A batch E Government Hills is likely to cone down before (ho end of th-> week, and then perhaps the rush will begin. PROGRAMMES AND PROSPECTS. Tho present session, like others, has seen the issue of two legislative pio-grammes-one in the Governor s Speech and one in tho linancial Statement, iUo Speech at the opening ot the present session promised eighteen Bills, most of I hem being of a minor character. l wel\ o out of the eighteen have been introduced. Tho other six, which have not yet seen the davliglit, are a Bill to amend tho Native' Land Act, ISO 9, a Wages Protection 'Bill. Bills to amend tho Births and Deaths Registration Act, Marriage Act, and Loans to Local Boaies ■Vet and, of course, tho- Local Government Bill. One of the twelve, tho Town Planning Bill, has been dropped. Iho Mental Defectives Bill and a few others of less importance have passed through the House and gone up to tho Council, while tho Pharmacy Amendment Bill, the Plumbers' Registration Bill, the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill, anci two or three others of smaller calibre await their second reading in the House.- Tho Land and Income Assessment Amendment Bill, a lengthy- and important measure which was not mentioned ■in the Speech, is in tho samo position. THE SECOND PROGRAMME. Coming to tho second programine, it may bo said'that about, half of the elcc- , tioncering tit-bits mentioned in the Budget can only materialise through tho medium of fresh legislation. It is generally believed that very little of that legislation will be introduced this session, whatever may happen afterwards, but Sir Joseph Ward told tho AVest Coasters tho other night that an endeavour would bo made to give immediate effect to as many of tho Budget proposals as possible. .With tho Financial Debate yet to be finished, the Estimates to be considered, and the Public Works Statement and Estimates yet to be dealt with, besides the promised legislation and the customary surprise packets of legislation that has not been promised, the House has a few busy weeks ahead of it. '

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS. Tho House will probably resolve to-day that Government business shall take precedence on Wednesdays. That means thai' tho chance for private members' Bills has gone. Mr. Jennings's Gaming Amendment .Hill mnv como ud again. 3[r. IJerdman's Public Service Reform Bill, Sir William Steward's Elective Executive Bill, and Marriage Amendment Bill, and Mr. Sidoy's Moan Timo Bill hayo all been killed by rote, of tho House. Mr. Fisher's Sunday Labour Bill has gone to tho Labour Bills Committee, whence it may return (luring t'lie ond-of-the-session rush. There still remain on tho Order Paper the Land Ageni's Bijl {Mr, Witty), Christchurcli Domains Amendment Bill (Mr. Davoy). Legislative Amendment Bill No. 2 (Sir W. Steward), Land Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Newman), National Sick and-Accident Insurance Bill (Sir A. Guinness), Land Act Amendment Bill No. 2 (Sir W. Steward), Legislature Amendment Bill (Mr. Fishnr). Municipal Cornoralions Amendment Bill (Mr. Davcy), Universal Saturday Half-holidav Bill (Mr. Laurenson), Duties on Food Abolition Bill (Mr. Hogg), Hereditary-Titles Prevention Bill (Mr. Newman), Shearers' Accommodation Amendment Bill (Mr. M'Laren), nnd Promrtional 'Representation Bill (Mr. Fowlds). Thero are thirteen on this little list, and the number, for once, is significant'. They arc already counted with tho slain.