POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 157, 24 June 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

BAY OF PLENTY SEAT. .By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisbome, Last Night. Mr.Vv. 8. Mac Donald has been chosen Government candidate for the Hay o i Plenty. Mr Mac Donald has been in' active member of the Farmers' Union since its inception, being a member oi Motu branch, which is the most influential in the Auckland district. He is vicepresident of the provincial executive, also president of the Farmers' Club, anil , has been for many years associated witH local politics in various capacities. THE COMING SESSION. Everything points to a brief session. The Premier gives the duration) at tliree months, and in all probability the last session of the existing Parliament will not exceed twelve or thirteen weeks. The Minister of Labor (the Hon. H. A. Millar) already lias it printed draft of the amending Arbitration Bill prepare:!, and the measure will be introdupeut early in the session. The Minister u's'o., has his draft copy of the Workers' com- ' pciisatiim Act Amendment Bill printpd.. The Bill will not dilfer materially troni that 'circulated last session.

Judging from what the Minister for Labor said at Napier on Friday, t.h.<!| amendments of the Arbitration Actthis

session will lie on Ihe sump lines as I taoso iu tlio amending Bill of Just year. Ho proposed, he said, to do away'with ! the Concilation Boards and introduce a"" provision for Industrial, Councils, to place the power of dealing witli breaches of award in the hands of magistrates. He proposed that imprisonment or distraint should lie abolished, and that in lieu therof power should be givefi to. the Labor Department, when a man said lie would not pay n just penalty, to follow him wherever he went and get it out of his wages. He proposed to give unions the power to collect subscriptions from men working under awards whether they belonged to the unions or not. "W e are all ready to meet the House, said the Premier to ai Post rv porter, "and the policy Bills are rea-Vy for presentation, with the exception of a few details which have not yet. been decided on." Sir Joseph considers that the work of the session can be' g>)6 • through in three months. As to the date of the general election, lie was less definite. The elections will be over well before Christmas.

There will lie no morning sittings this session—at any rate, until the near approach of the end of the session renders such a step necessary. The Premier also says he thinks the House ought t'J be able to rise at midnight. "Short sitr tings and despatch of business" will bi\ the Government's motto.