POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1843, 1 September 1913, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

news and Anticipations.

NAVAL jQEFENCE.

Although no declaration of naval defonco policy was made in clcar terms by either the Prime Minister or Mr. Allen during the debate,; in the House

last woek, it was apparent from such guarded statements as were made by both Ministers that the policy, when it is announced, will provido . for moro than tho, mere" payment of a contribution to the Imperial Government. Ono of the most'interesting of these announcements was made by Mr.. Massey in tho last fow words of his speech, when ho expressed the opinion that part of tho ~naval, policyof Now Zeiland should bo to provido for the training of young mon for tho Imperial Navy. This, it may. bo presumed in tho light of the Prime 'Minister's quite unreserved expression of opinion on the point, will probably form'part of tho naval defence policy. ' The proposal has been mentioned before, but it has never previously been adopted. by any other New Zealand, Ministry. . THE LEADERLKBS OPPOSITION. No nows is obtainable about the Opposition leadership, but the opinion is gaining ground that Sir Joseph Ward may not, after all, 'accept the position, and the,honour which the party aro so anxious to confer upon him. It is said that Mr. T. M. Wilford is now<a candidate ; for the leadership. ' Of. course, the Opposition must always remain the Opposition until they get a .majority., in the. House 'to follow their leader, and'there does not seem to be any. immediate prospect of getting that majority , for some timo, possibly a long time. Under these circumstances the pest of Leader of the Opposition is not likely to be much sought after, involving as it does a great deal of hard work. The member for Awarua has since his return worked much less strenuously than ever before as a member, speaking only occasionally, and going home early on nights when unimportant business es on the order paper. Ho has also avoided what is called party fighting Generally, his actions do not encourage the disgruntled "Liberals" to hope that he will yet assume tho leadership. MOTOR TRAINS. 'An impression seems to lave got nbroad .that the motor trains of which the Government have two at present on order are to be run on suburban lines. The Minister for Railways stated in conversation with a reporter that he was advised that motor trains are not useful for ! suburban traffic; for. the Teason that they cannot carry tho heavy loads of ipassengers using those lines. He thought the trains would be found to bo suitable rathciv for short branch lines in tho country districts where the traffic is not heavy, and Micro there nro no steep gradients. A".motor train was used some time ago on the Auck-la.nd-Helensville. line, but the' _ motor proved to bo unreliable, and ,it is now •■permanently off the track.' WAIPOUA FOREST. The question of whether legislation is necessary to enable tho Government to give effect-to the recommendations of tho Forestry Commission in regard to the Waipoua kauri forest, in the north of Auckland, has been referred by tho Prime Minister to the Crown Law Officers. The Commi3sion's recommendations, us already stated, are that the reservation on the forest bo lifted, subject to-the following conditions:—(l) That the timber be milled by tho Crown for tho peoplo; (2) that 200 acres of tho' most characteristic and healthy, parts of the forest be reserved permanently ; (3) 'that the Warawara State kauri forest he. also reserved permanently,; and (4) that both the 200 acres of' AVaipoua forest and tho whole of tho Warawaraforest bo made' n iiatioh.il paHc, for 'the: benefit of the people of Nqw,-Zealand. . BILLS & REPORTS. Tlie Government's Land Bill and the 'Arbitration Amendment Bill* are in n forward ''state of preparation, and both will probably bo introduced this week. The Land Bill, which will provide a further important instalment' of the Government's land policy, will probably be the first of'these two Bills-to make its appearance. A large number of reports will probably bo brought down' this week. The reports that may be expected include the annual reports of the Land and Labour Departments, and also tho first report of' tho Public, Service' Commissioners on tho- working of the Public Service-Act.".' ' ; ;