The Daily News FRIDAY, JUNE 12. THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 141, 12 June 1908, Page 2

The Daily News FRIDAY, JUNE 12. THE COMING SESSION.

The Parliamentary session of 1908 opens in three weeks time, and in consequence the programme outlined by the Prime Minister in his speech at Christchurch on .Monday night is of more thao passing interest. It is ambitious enough, in all conscience, to satisfy the 1 most exacting disciple of legislative progress, but it would Ik' hopeless, to expert that more than a small proportion of the policy measures outlined will finil their way to the Statute Book this year, in the first place, it is unlikely I that members, in their temporary ipiar- i lers, will be over comfortable, and con- i sequently unlikely to display dallying propensities that will keep them longer than is absolutely essential, amidst their somewhat novel surroundings .More particularly, however, will mem hers show a predilection to expedite a reasonable amount of business in orih'i' that thev might Ik- free as early a„ possible to defend their seals at the general elections in Noveinlver. A nes-si-.ii of three mouths would allow members only between six and eight weeks for personal Weelioueeriug. and it is therefore very unlikely that the session will extend beyond that term. With the contentious land question out of the way, there is no outstanding question, other than the labor one, offering subject for prolonged debate. A! the same time it must not lie assumed that the policy measures are unimportant in character; on the contrary, the programme bristles with proposals of a most important and far-reaching character, as, for instance, the national superannuation proposals: "a system of national annuities for the people of the country generally, and the provision of superannuation for the em ployment of local bodies and all other classes." If aetuarily sound, the logical extension of our old-age pension scheme, I but on a contributory basis, is certainly not in opposition to public opinion, whatever the attitude of friendly societies might l»e. 'The amending proposals in connection with the Conciliation and Arbitration Acts should provide some sharp criticism, and it is only to b.' expected that members will have a lot to sav regarding the failure of the Ac! to enforce penalties for breaches of the Court's awards. In view of the approaching election, the introduction of legislation to provide for absolute ma joritv representation is timely. It is evident from Sir Joseph Ward's speech that the second ballot is favored to the Hon. Mr. Me.Nab's preferential voting system. Other policy measures promised include proposals to amend the Civil Service, the Mining Act. the Shipping and Seamen's. Act, the Slaughtering Inspection Act. the Teachers' Superannu ation Act. the Tramways Act. the Workers' Compensation Act. the Education Act as far as teachers' salaries are concerned, the I'olice Superannua tion A<l. the Contractors" and Workmen's Liens Act. the Corporation Con tractors Act. the Destitute Persons Act. the Friendly Societies Act. and tbs system of audit in the direction of having a post-auoit instead of a prcaudit. As -already stated, however, there is little likelihood of more than a portion of the programme being embodied in the Statutes in the limited time that members will be disposed to devote lo the session.