THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 50, 17 July 1912, Page 4

THE COMING SESSION.

THE WORK OF PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter, Wellington, Last Night. "We have a large amount of arrears to overtake before we tackle policy questions," said the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) to a reporter to-day. "We had a long sitting of Cabinet yesterday and another long sitting ought to enable it to catch up the arrears." As to the resumption of the session, the Prime Minister had no doubt that the necessary work would be ready for suomission" when Parliament again met. Several Bills were already on the stocks and others would be made ready in du» course. He was prepared for the usual debate on the .Financial Statement, which would contain the policy of the new Government. He did uot anticipate that the troubles met with would be more than the average, and in any case he did not intend to go in for late sittings. There would be a certain amount of legislative work allocated to the session, and that work would be got through. "There is no doubt about the feeling in favor of the Government." the Prime Minister went on to say. "I have just returned from a visit to my home in the north, and so far as it is possible for anybody to judge public feeling is decidedly in favor of giving the new Government an opportunity of giving legislative effect to its proposals."

PRISONS AND POLICE. "As soon as the work of the session is over," said the Minister for Justice) Mr. A. L. Herdman, to a reporter today, "I propose to visit the prisons of the Dominion and also the police centres with a view to satisfying myself as to the working of the various institutions. There may be some slight alterations made meanwhile in connection with the working of the prisons, but no attempt will be made this session to bring about any Radical alteration." THE POLITICAL SITUATION. ; v

The atmosphere of Parliament Buildings during the present interregnum- is of the most somnolent description. The chief reason for that state of things is that Ministers have engaged in a conspiracy of silence. Their immediatepredecessors, probably with the best intentions, made long and particular statements as to their intentions. They were going to do this, that and the other. Their policy in various respects was given out in detail. From their point of view the move was a good one-,, as it enabled the public to get a clear idea of what the new Government would do if it had the chance, and, therefore, suggested to the public the possibility of influencing members to so vote as tokeep it in power. Mr. Massey and his Ministerial followers are taking exactly the opposite course. They are assuming the pose of permanent head men, whose fortune and destiny it is to direct the, nation for the full term of Parliament at least. The late Mr. Seddon knew: how valuable a political move it was to keep the people on the edge of expectancy, and only to launch his political thunderbolts when the people liad almost become tired of watching. It looks as if Mr. Massey had taken a leaf out of the book of His predecessor, and the members of his Ministry are backing him up well generally. The opinion locally is growing that the House will give Mr. Massey a good chance to demonstrate the virtues of the policy that he has to enunciate, and that he will probably survive the encounter, though it is generally understood that the encounter with the fortress of the new Opposition will be arduous and occasionally virulent and often protracted.- The Government, in a word, is setting itself to do the work before it with a calm assurance that is based on security of political tenure, and most of those jnterested make little secret of the fact that they expect the majority of eight secured at the recent cruciai division to, be increased rather than reduced. It is useless at the present moment to inquire into the details of the legislation that, the Government proposes to bring down. As a matter of fact, Mr. Massey and his colleagues have not yet arrived at any conclusions _on the subject, but it does seem certain that the Government intends to make a big bid for recognition; during the session that will recommence at the end of the month, and that it considers itself strong enough to carry out that programme, despite any opposition that may be directed against it. The issue has, of course, still to be decided, but the indications all along the line are that the new Government will make a big bid for .support both in the House and the country, and endeavor to so promulgate its political desires that it will be enabled to go to the country as a living entity in 1914. The curious feature of the political situation is that even members of the Opposition do not attempt to seriously suggest the possibility of turning the tables on the Government.