The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1900. THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 104, 19 June 1900, Page 2

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1900. THE COMING SESSION.

Much interest attaches to the programme of measures likely to engage the attention of our Legislature during the coming Parliamentary session, which opens on Thursday. In sympathy with the martial spirit now so widely prevalent, it is likely that the Defence system of the col my will come in for some extensive and radical alterations, more especially in the direction of putting the colonial forces on a more effective war footing. According to the Wellington Post, certain Bills have been occupying the attention of the Department of Agriculture. Two of these have already been submitted to Parliament, but owing largely, perhaps, to the absence of the Minister for Lands, did not reach the Statute-book last session. They are the Slaughtering and Inspection Bill and the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill. Another measure to be fathered by the Department of Agriculture is one slightly amending the Dairy Industry Act, Tne Act does not provide for local bodies contributing to the cost of inspection, when that work is taken over by the Department. The desired amendment is not a very debatable matter, and as it would place the Act | upon a sound financial basis it should i receive the approval of the Legislature. ! The objects of these three Bills are to prevent the sale and distribution of diseased meat, milk, and fruit, and they are designed therefore to protect our citizens, our orchards, and our stock. Our contemporary goes on to say that the Technical Education Bill introduced last Parliament was " hung up" for three sessions owing to the Premier's refusal to make it a purely undenominational measure. We trust that a Bill free from the old blemish will speedily receive the sanction of the Legislature. Another educational matter that has demanded public notice of late is the proposed adoption of a colonial scale and staff for teachers. The merits of the question have been time and again discussed in these columns, and wo had hoped that the Minister for Education would have been ready to ask Parliament for the necessary authority tbis session. It would seem, however, that he fears to face the opposition stirred up in certain interested quartets, and that the matter will not be proceeded with this session. The Local Government Bill his been before our legislators for some years, and there is crying need of this great reform, but it coves s so much ground that it will demand almost a whole session to itself. Labour legislation promises to afford a certain amount of food for debate. General dissatisfaction has baen expressed at s;me of the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Both employers and unions have suggested amendments, and the Act may possibly have to undergo thorough revision. Among other points that may be raised are the partial or total abulition of Boards of Conciliation, the extension of the Act to cover other associa'ions besides the unions to which recent legal decisions confine its operations, thy compulsory granting of preference to unionists, and the appointment of a spatial judgo to preside in the Court of Arbitration. Then there is the native legislation. Proposals have in the past met with opposition from within the " Liberal" party, and the natives are divided in opinion, so it is doubtful whfawb er the Government will have the courage to proC®6d with its policy. It is very probable that licensing legislation will prove the most controversial subject before the new Parliament. It is certain that an attempt wtyl be made to prolong the interval between the local option polls, T'iere is, too, a demand in som9 directions for the abolition of the reduction issue at the poll, and the Commissioner of Police desires an amendment of the law to make presence without proper cause on licensed premises after hours au offence against the' law. There were several Government Bills not proceeded with last session, and they will almost certainly reappear on tho Order Paper, even if their introducers neglept tbern i afterwards, Among them are t-frw Absolute Majority Bill, t.bo Kufewn!dum Bfll, lb.: 11-n. Bill, -n<J tli-.-Illlj'riSiULjv'ijb ' .-i' I-) b; LtiuK.fli If- , LmII. Siiyol . Hii'i PaMtii W-.» lis E.v. ■ . t -i- inns', -it L'l'i.u'S", .ujj much tn , thH ei-i—M : ■',« a L'.MI- Bill. W natfurthn j uiiv be introduced is wo l

'!■ U'ko impossible to siy with an) dtgiee of certainty, but it is safo to vMjma that there will bo several addiioDH 1.0 ths foregoing list, In any ■ as*, Parliament will have a lengthy ud serious programme to deal with, "Ve r ! if nothing beyond what has already been mentioned is attempted. I'hus ctip'ious npp jsitiun ar.d deliberate •.'.oncwalling 'actics are likuly to binder 'hu proceedings fiom the very omiuunCiment of the session is not at all: mlikf-ly, acd, their hugy maj Tity •iotwithstandiiig, tlie Goverimsut will Jii fid it any tiling but an easy mattir to! pilot a fa«r pi*»poi'!ion of their in-.-atures lutu tiie haven of the Statutes, I