Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, AUG. 11, 1903. Progress of the Session.

Manawatu Herald, 11 August 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, AUG. 11, 1903. Progress of the Session.

During the five or six weeks Parliament has been in session no legislation of an unusnally important nature has been dealt with. The legislation affecting the Bank of New Zealand will no doubt occupy a good deal of time in the House, and a number of experienced members consider that this may be the only measure of outstanding importance which will reach its final stage during the present session. Preferential Trade is of course occupying some attention, but that question is not sufficiently developed to allow any results to be expected this year, neither is the question of subsidy to

the Australasian Squadron likely to be the subject of contention. The intention of the Government in regard to setting up a State Fire Insurance Department is not looked upon by Mr Seddon’s supporters as being a measure that will be given any prominence in the meantime. Certainly the Bill has been brought down, but it is thought only for the purpose of going through the convenient process of being referred to a committee, and the opinion held by members is that at the end of the session this Bill will be among those left over for next session. Promised legislation . giving compulsory preference to Unionists and a measure to put an end to trusts and combines will no doubt meet with a similar fate. The land question may at any time be tackled in some form or another, but the Government does not appear to wish to encourage any' discussion on that subject. A measure for rent concessions, to bush sattlers has been brought down, but so drafted as not to clash with the Land Act; the supporters of freehold will consequently have to exercise their ingenuity and knowledge of parliamentary tactics to get any motion entailing the alteration of the land tenure accepted as an amendment on this Bill, The Coastwise Trade Bill is a measure of far-reach-ing importance, but it is regarded more as an opportunity for demonstrating the opinions of the Imperial Parliament than as a real effort to immediately get restriction placed on foreign ships trading on the New Zealand coasts. As to licensing legislation we have previously expressed the opinion that something should be done to remedy certain anomalies in the Act.