POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1825, 11 August 1913, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

A LONG SESSION. UPPER HOUSE REFORM. Tho Parliamentary Buildings have worn a deserted appearance duriug the weekend. About a dozen southern members and a few hailing from the North Island lmvo gone to Christchurch for a few days, and thoso who remain in town lmvo abandoned tho sceno of their legislative lab.ours, as by common consent, during tho non-sitting interval. Apparently the strain of a hard-working session is already beginning to make itself folt to some extent, although the amount of work that lias been done as comparatively trfliing as compared with what remains to bo done. When the House resumes on Tuesday it will proceed with somo.of the Bills on tho Ord«r Paper, which 'is already heavily stocked. On Wednesday the Financial debate will begin, and it is practically certain to ia6t for a week or two. Beyond that point, prospects are moro or less vague, but the opinion is universal that the session will bo one of tho longest on record. It is agreed 011 all sides that Parliament will bo engaged until December. and possibly the session may be continued into that month. THE REFORM BILL. Well-informed politicians consider that tho prospects of an amieablo understanding being arrived at between the Gflvern.mont and the legislative Council in regard to tho Upper House Reform Bill are not bright. It is thought highly probable that tho Council may eventually send tho Bill to the Lower House in such a shape that the Government will decline to accept it. Tho Government has announced, its intention of adhering to the vital principle of tho Bill, that of election. It is conceivablo that the Government might go as far in tho way of compromise as to accept a Council with 75 per cent, of elected members, and the remainder nominated, but it is considered probablo that tho Council will ask for more, and suggest either a half-and-half nominated and elected Council, or ono appointed by some secondary method of election. In tho event of no agreement being arrived at, the alternative left to the Government would bo to go to tho country in support of its Bill, in 1911. POLICY BILLS. . . Tho Land Bill, the Primo Minister stated yesterday, will not bo introduced probably for a week' or two. The Bill to .amend and consolidate the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is ready 'and will bo introduced .shortly. As has been indicated this measure will break new ground by providing machinery for the settlement of industrial disputes in which unregistered unions are concerned. The Bill, dealing with the affairs of tho Bank of New Zealand, will not bo brought down until the Financial Debate has concluded. The Electoral Bill will make its appearand towards tho end of this session. The Native Land Bill will be introduced during tho present month. It will contain some important provisions for expediting the settlement of Native lands. Tho Bill following tho usual' course will be referred to the Native Affairs Committee. A_Bill dealing with tho i rating of Native lands will also bo introduced. COMMITTEES BUSY. It is not yet definitely known when the Special Committee set up to consider and report upon the utterances of Opposition members regarding the- appointment of Mr. Royd Garlick as Director of Physical Education Will commence its sittings. At present members aro unusually- burdened with Committee work. A number of important Bills are undergoing review and in addition several spccial inquiries aro under way. Tho Lands Committee is inquiring into charges of abrogation of land and also into a chareo of maladministration in connection .with a Cheviot sectifln. Apart from the regular committees tho Special Committee appointed to inquiro into recent appointments to tho Westport Harbour Board is to continue its sittings this week. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. -A Bill to amend tho Workers' Compensation Act has b?en introduced in the House, but it has not been circulated. It is being held over for revision pending a decision as to tho powers to bo conferred upon magistrates in dealing with compensation, fflaims. This question was discussed when tho Magistrate's Court Amendment Bill waa beforo tho House, but was held over for further consideration. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, ■ 111 pursuance of the determination of tho Government to grant representation upon the Board of Agriculture to the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies of tha Dominion, arrangements are being mado to set up an electoral college which will bo entrusted with the duty of electing eight members' representative of tho different agricultural districts of tho Dominion., THE OPPOSITION. . The Opposition party, so far as can be ascertained, is no nearer the solution of tho problems of internal organisation by rrhich it is perplexed than it was when the session began. Tho troublo appears to be that while a dominant section of the-party regard Sir Joseph Ward'as their proper leader, there is a smaller section of membarj who are opposed to his election. Tho rest of tho story, and it is ono that. finds general acceptance in tho lobbies, is that tho member for Awaraa, will hot look at the leadership unless, in taking it, he is promised the loyal and undivided support of tho party. . Meantime, the Financial debate is at hand, and unless the - Opposition make a very sudden effort, they will enter it as a more or less disorganised faction, under tho Committee of Public Safety, instead of doing so unitedly under a singlo leader.