POLITICAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 44, 16 November 1918, Page 10

POLITICAL NOTES

, A NATIONAL PARTY

TKo Parliamentary lobbies are. thinly occupied at the present time, many member's having taken adv-'intage. ot the adjournment to visit their homes, but tliero has been a good deal of discussion concerning the suggestion contained in ono of the resolutions adopted by the llcform caucus on Thursday, that "The more responsible elements hi the New -Zealand Parliament:should invito" on democratic; and patriotic grounds in order to resist, "the insidious spread, of revolutionary and anarchistic doctrines." The suggestion is interpreted by'members of all partes as a definite, move towards the formation of a National Parly. Tt is known that the -iilcu is approved by mnnv of the.Rpform members and by a section of the Libera! members. A caucus of,Libera! members of the House is to be hoid mi Tuesday next, and the'resolution of caucus is sure to be mcntio.'itd there. Some or the Liberal members are expressing their objection to any si,-vt of amalgamation that will involve the loss of the identity of their own party. Sir ".."ostpli Ward, Lender of (he Lib.era', /> ! .?.Hy, stated yesterday that he knew d« tisw of the proposed National Pnrtv than lie had seen in tlio- newspapers. He had not been consulted on the point. He sow no reason why all pa rife ja Parliament fibouM not continue- to work harmoniously together mi questions arising out of the war.- But the niiTirir.g of parties was a matter he could not. discuss, even if there wero. need to dismiss them., without consulting the members of his own party. He did not know that His mailer would ds mentioned at the Liberal pxnm on i tiesday. ' . ' . ALIENS AND LAND. Some protest.; are being'made against clauses of the War Illation' Bill relating to the purchase and tensing of land by persons of ene.T.y alien bipod. It is argued that thes- woWsio'is -will inflict hardship en New Fe.itosd citizens who have been in tho cnan'.rv 'an- their lives, and .vrJwse io.v«!iy if- Lvynnrt question, merely became one of :he>v parents came from an. enemy wu;i l .ry-: many vearo aio. Tho pr<*is!-;!M ef She BUI havi bs:n drafted -vit'n the Aisvi'of pre■vinting hardship in sain <•««. The ilill djf'3 not pvohibii: pcrtyis f-f enemy Mood freni buying or ip.v>iiy \wA. It Tfijuivso them to procure-, thfc w.vtent of Uit Minister of Land?, each caso on it.« rcerite. Tho ■Kckii' I went may consent; however, to mak? an | escejitinn in the' case* cf iwrswis who i were born 'in New Zeil'Hid after th* na- ! inralisation of their parent.'., and who resided in tha country for a cor- | tain period of years.

THE LlttUOH BILL, The Liquor liili is likely to bfl t-msid" Bred by Cabinet during this tfotk-aiid, and it may nrniia Hit appa.'sraMe in ti:= House of Eepresenttttiveg iioxt week. II is beliov;d lobbies that the Gov.ernnisut jo going to propose a referendum 'on thn lines suggested by the National Efficiency Board, but members are uafchuj what effect the close of the war is going to have on a proposil that was regarded originally ns a war measure. _ The possibility of the referendum being taken at the same time as the general election is also being discussed. The referendum could not be held before the beginning of the New Year in any .case., THE BUDGET. The Budget nuy be presented' to the House of at the end of ne.vt week. The adjournment of ■ the House has given Ministers an opportunity to proceed with its preparation.