The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1903. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 243, 12 November 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1903. THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The present session of Parliament has been noted for the immense volubility of members, and the length of time spent in doing very little. We feel bound to say this. Parliament has now been sitting for about Ave months, having been called together at the end of June, All this time has gone, and we hear members—Government and Opposition alike—complaining that there is nothing done-, whilst there are now awHithi'g cohKi'deratich such important and bulky matters as the Licensing Bill, the Public Works Statement and EstinVatcs, and 'banking legislation', besides other Bills of interest to the country. The Liberal Party some time ago decided to go on with the Electoral Law Amendment, Referendum, Regulation of Local Elections, Property Law Consolidation-, and Companies Bills, which, added to the business previously mentioned, makes a pretty big programme at this advanced stage of session. When Parliament opened we oxpected a busy session, productive of much important legislation. We were told of a great scheme for opening meat shops in London, and also listened, in the Premier's preSessional addresses, to references to suggestions of consideration of Imperial affairs. Perhaps all this has been completely overshadowed by Mr Chamberlain's fiscal proposals, or it may lie true that the Ministerial party is not as consolidated as it might be. Certainly members do a great deal of talk outside, but we do not doubt their loyalty to the Premier, nor do we doubt that they are in entire accord with his proposed legislation. The trouble is that the promised measures are mot being proceeded with. The Licensing Bill promises a lively debate, and stonewalling tactics are threatened to prevent its passage through the House. Is it to be that the House will waste another few weeks without placing any beneficial measures •1 the Statute Book? And if this is so, at what period will the Public Works Statement bo brought down ? The financial year commenced on tile Ist of April. Now we are well into November, and no one but the Premier and his Ministers is acquainted with the Government proposals' regarding public works expenditure. Wo know, or at least we have been led to believe, that there will be a curtailment in the amount to be spent on public works, and It may bo that the reductions are so substantial that the Premier Would rather hold them back than bring them before members in their present fractious state of mind, Membiers are almost on the tip-toe of expectation with regard te the amounts to be voted for the various districts, and there is the Licen i; l Bill to prevent their receiving an,, information just yet. The proposed banking legislation is also being anxiously looked forward to, as there are grave doubts about the " modified partnership" scheme between the Government and the Bank of New Zealand. We notice that Sir Joseph Ward has moved in the mattor of renewing the mail service contract with Messrs Spreckles and Co., and this motion will not be put through without warm debate. Altogether it is safe to predict that the present session will last for eoinc weeks J'ot, and the Premier may intend to enforce his threat to keep members until Christmas, if necessary, in order to carry the legislation outlined earlier in the session. Generally speaking, the first session is not productive of much good work; more being accomplished in the second; In the first, the Premier seems to be feeling his ground, in the second genuine work is done, and in the third members address their constituents through the columns of Hansard. Taking that as an accepted fact, we cannot expect much more legislation to be done this session.