POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

, ? ELECTORAL BEFOBM. " - ■ .•} t. BILL-COMING THIS SESSION, It ia beginning to 'bo agreed-on nil' Bides that tho present session is likely to bo one of the longest <on i«cor<i. A month has gone, iu which comparatively little has been done, and on enormous amount of work lies ahead. Apart from such •6tamliag features as the Financial Statement, tho Public Works Statement, gie. Railways Statement, and the Estiates, there is'the Tariff to be revised, fend an array of policy Bills to be dealt with such as is not often equalled in a single session. . Only optimistic members ■now cherish the hope ot getting away before Christmas, ancl somo who are not optimists say that they will be luoky to get away in time to celebrate tho Christinas holidays. The Prime Minister stated yesterday, that it was not certain that the Imprest Supply Bill would come down to-day. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Tho Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister for Finance) stated yesterday that the Financial Statement might bo introduced on Friday next, but that it was moro probable that it would make its appearance early next week. ELECTORAL REFORM BILL. The Government intend to bring down an Electoral Reform Bill, dealing with tho constitution of the Lower House, this session, the Prime Minister told a reporter yesterday. What the nature of tho proposals contained in the Bill would be, Mr. Massey declined to say, but he intimated that an announcement on tho subject would be niade in the Financial Statement.

One feature of the Bill may be taken for granted since the Government is pledged to repeal the Second Ballot Act. As to the new- electoral system to be adopted, two proposals havo figured prominently in such discussions on the subject as nave taken place amongst members in the lobbies. One suggested system is that of preferential voting _ in single electorates, n'hich would practically mean taking the first and second ballots at a single poll. Failing this it has been suggested that' proportional representation be established in tho four chief cities, the present system, minus the second ballot, being allowed to stand meantime in the remaining electorates. UPPER HOUSE REFORM. Opinions ate somewhat divided as to the fate that the Reform Bill is lilcely to meet this year at the hands vof the ,Upper House. Some members oi tho Council profess to beliovo that there is no particular Teason why the Bill should be allowed to pass in its present form; and that the natural course will be to repeat the rejection of last year. One Counoillor who takes this view nrgued, in speaking to 'a reporter, that sitting members of the Council had a recognised right, under ordinary circumstances, to h>9 reappointed at the end of their term of seven years. It is scarcely necessary to remark that this view embodies a novelty which is , hardly likely to secure recognition bj- the Government. Prominent members of the Reform party to whom it was mentioned yesterday characterised the idea as v absurd. - Other members of. the Council take a more moderate view of the situation, and from conversation with some of them it wra gathered that in all probability an attempt .would be made to have the Bill referred to a special committee, with a view to amendments being framed which might bo submitted to the Government iby way of compromise. No doubt an attempt will be made to secure'some modification in the constitution of the Council, under the Reform Bill, by the retention of a proportion of nominated nwrnbtirs, or at all events of members appointed r>y some method other than direct i election. ' . . It is admitted even by opponents of the Keform Bill that the Government 'holds an easy command over the situation. By January next twelve members of the present Council will have retired ibv effluxion of time. Two others mil have retired by July 1, 1911. Thus, if the Eeform Bill should be again rejected, and . the. Government eleots simply to sit tight," a considerable proportion of its opponents will disappear from the held in the ordinary course of events, belore tho final session of Parliament has well begun. At worst a small percentage ot the new appointments which would be required to carry the Bill in face of opposition this year would suffice to carry it in 19M.

LOCAL BODIES' LOANS. It is expccted that tho Local Bodies' Loans Bill, to be introduced this week,' will embody important alterations and amendments in tho system under wliich local todies now raise snchi fuiids as they Teqnire. The advisability of differentiating between different classes of local bodies has often been emphasised, and the neiY Bill mill probably draw a clear distinction between comparatively wealthy local bodies which are competent to enter the market on their own account, and those which can afford tp saise only small sums and are absolutely dependent Tipon Government assistance in tlieir borrowing operations. On behalf of local •bodies of the latter class, the Government will no doubt arrange to borrow a stated annual amount, not to bo exceeded in any one year. Assistance of another kind will be lent to local bodies which carry out works upon a large scale and need correspondingly large amounts of borrowed money. The aim in regard to these bodies will be to enable. them tD seek tho money market for themselves. The Govrrnment is determined, it is stated, to •put an end to the system uuder which the State borrowed almost any amount, on behalf of local bodies, when the position of the market allowed it and lent enormous sums to individual local bodies. The underlying idea of the new legislation will probably he that local authcri■tiqs which can absorb big loans should raise-the money for theniwdves with the State backing their operations. THE OPPOSITION. The Opposition have not yet given any definite indication of an intention to concentrate their forces under a single leader. So far .v visible indications go their attitude is that of Mr. Micawber. One member of the party was asked yesterday whether the prospective early arrival of Sir Joseph -AVard would give rise to any attempt to setlle the leadership problem. He replied that .a' meeting would na doubt be held at on earlv date and that fouiethiiwr' definite would be done, but whether Sir Jo?ei>h Ward was likely to be selected as leader, or to accept the office if offered it, lie was not prepared tn .say. Dt. Te Tfn.ngiji.iroa is expected to return to AV"llin"tnn next week, and tho arrival of Sir .To=ep!i Ward on Mf.ndav next will bring'the Opposition Darty up to its full strength, F.ive for tho of Sir .Ins. Carroll, who is not vet fullv recovored from the effects of his recent illness, and will tirnbnblv not take up liU Parlianienl'ivv duties for rmotliP" month or six we"!,-<. Sir .Tiiinc- Carroll paid a short vuif to Parliament Konsp yesterday. Although ]v hns ie-nriived a great deal in l"a!t!i, he is ,till far from his ■former self. STATE LENDING.' *'A great many demands for loans in both the Advances io Settlers and Advances to Workers' branches are coming ill at the present time," the Hon. .Jas. Allen told a reporter yesterday, "but," he added, "I think that we are, meeti;>; the great bulk of the legitimate'demands in both classes."