POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1918, Page 1

POLITICAL JOTTINGS.

The Government will bo ready to proceed with the serious work of the session without delay. Various Bills have been before Cabinet during recent days, and will be ready for discussion bv tne House as soon as members have disposed of the Address-in-Reply debate. It appears that the session’s Bills are not going to be many in number. Petitions relating to the liquor issue will come before the House at once. They will be referred to a committee which may arrange to take evidence on the question of compensation and some of the other points involved in the demand for a referendum as suggested by the Efficiency Board. The various parties have been ennvassing Ministers -and members very thoroughly ou tin* liquor issue, and the supporters of the “efficiency referendum” are claiming a substantia] majority. The impression among members is that when the Government has given a lead regarding the referendum proposal, the House, will reach a decision quickly. Prolonged discussion ou the Prohibition Issue is not anticipated, it is considered unlikely that a refondum if authorised by Parliament, will be taken before the end of the present year. The report of the Defence Commission will be laid before Parliament during, the approaching session. The report will be accompanied by a statement from the Defence Department covering the points raised by the commissioners. The heads of the various branches have considered the recommendations contained in the report and prepared statements in reply where necessary.

Some of the recommendations made by the Commission have already been adopted. Others were in process of adoption when they were made, the Defence Department having anticipated the Commission in the search of improved methods. -A case in point was the audit in London. Some

recommendations, on the other hand, have not been adopted for reasons that are to be stated in the memorandum the