POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1802, 15 July 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

TO-DAY'S DEBATE. t ——■ LABOUR MEMBERS-& UNITY. Members who were spoken to In the Parliamentary lobbies yesterday agreed in endorsing the prediction that the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate is likely to last out this week. Amongst ihoso who are regarded as likely to speak to-day are the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey), (Mr. J. B. Hine, Mr. J l . Mander, Mr. H. G. Ell, and Mr< G. Laurenson, NEW BILLS READY. The Prime Minister stated yesterday that the Shops and Offices Act Amendment and the Land and .Income Tax Bills would probably be introduced to-day. Tfie [Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill is. almost ready for presentation. THE LABOUR MEMBERS. The Unity and the events VJiich have followed it do not seem to have materially affected the attitude of tho Labour men in Parliament. , Mr. W. A. Veitch, when he was questioned on the subject yesterday, stated ■that the Congress liad not altered his position In any way. He had been a member, of the United Labour party since its'inception, and still adhered to that organisation. Mr. Veitch, however, ■has not signed the Labour party pledge, and stated that he had no intention of doing''so. "Holding tho views I do in regard to strikes,'-' lie added, "I cannot associate myself with the new movement." Mr. Veitch. does not Glide hisopinion that the Unity Congress was a complete failure. "Its only result so far as I can see," he remarked, "has been to transfer Mr. W. T. Mills from the United Labour party to the Federation of Labour, and-1 do not regret the transfer." Mr. ,J. Robertson, Labour member for Otaki, takes a somewhat different position. On being questioned, he stated that ho would probably bo a free-lance in tho hope that a later attempt to arrive at Labour unity might prove more suaccssful than the abortive conference which has just concluded. Mi-. A. H. Hindmarsh is a pledged member of the United Labour party, and Mr. J. Payne is an adherent of the Federation of Labour. THE WELLINGTON STATION. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister for Railways) told a reporter yesterday that it was not intended to introduce this session a Loan Bill in aid of additions to open lines. If was too soon yet to 6ay, he replied to a further question, -frhether such a Bill would be introduced next session. One of the'items to be provided for in the : Bill. ,when_it does make its appearance, is the projected central railway s.tation at Wellington. v