POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1844, 2 September 1913, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

• ; ■ THE WEEK'S WORK. IMPORTANT BANKING BILL. Public and private Bills arc likely to engage the attention of tlie House of Representatives during the greater part of this week, and it is unlikely that consideration- of tho Estimates will he resumed' before Friday next. To-mor-row tho House will bo occupied with private' Bills, the Prime Minister having promised that two moro days (to-mor-row and to-morrow week) will be sot aside for their - consideration, before they are permanently set aside in favour of Government business. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND BILL. • One highly, important measure which is due to be introduced this week is the Bank of Now Zealand Bill. The opinion is general that the present relationship between tho bank and tho State will be retained in its main features, but that the shareholders may possibly be granted some .additional representation upon the directorate. • Other Bills due this week are the Land Bill and, the Industrial Conciliation-' and "Arbitration Act Amendment ■Bill.'"Reports likely to be presented iJhis week include those on land, labour, prisons, and the first 'report to Paijhament of the Public'ScrVice CJommission- : ers. . . ' THE RAILWAY STATEMENT. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister for Railways) informed a reporter yesterday that he was not-in a position to 6ay definitely when the. Railways Statement would! bo introduced, but that it would probably be brought down two or three weeks . hence. ; The projected i\ative Land Amendment Bill is likely to ho introduced at about the same time. 'Another piece of legislation that . Mr. Herries has in .hand -is the -portion of'a Rating Amendment ;Bill . dealing with • Native lands. AmorigsVothor things it iff ill amend the machinery now existing ih connection with the collection _or rates on Native' lands, the aim being to reduce-the-difficulties now experienced by .county councils and other local . ;bodies in collecting Native i-at-es. "lie portion of the Bill dealing with the rat"irig provisions whidi apply to Europeans is being prepared under the directions of the Hon. A. L. Herdman. UPPER HOUSE REFORM. The Legislative Council is to resume to-morro.v, and the committee appointed to consider and report upon the Reform Bill will also sit to-morrow, and is oxpeoted to report-this week. One 'item of business which, the council will deal with to-morrow is tho setting up of its portion tof a joint committeo of both Houses Which is to inquire into . the relations, of the State with I'riend'Jy'Societies.."' '

THE OPPOSITION. LEADERSHIP. Sir -Joseph Ward stated, on being "questioned last evening, that bo had no announcement to make on the subject of the Opposition Leadership.