THE SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 85, 27 August 1912, Page 4

THE SESSION.

POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

■By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night. The further the session goes the moreapparent it becomes that the new Government has entered upon a career which is likely to last for a considerable period. That fact may be easily apparent to those who read the reported debates of Parliament, but it is still more apparent to those who see Parliament day by day, and become acquainted ■with the inner workings of things. Not that t'he Opposition is going to rest contented. There are signs that the forces opposed to the Government will, in the near future, sink all minor differences and unite against the Government forces, but it is also apparent. that the Government intends to insist on carrying into effect some of the more important details of its policy this session, even though opposed by all the forces that can be arrayed against it. In his Budget reply speech the other ni"ht. Mr. Massey m'a : de it perfectly clear that he would 'insist on the House passing a measure giving t'he holders of renewable leases the right of the freehold,-and when Mr. G. W. Russell challenged him on the subject, he declared, in so many words, that if the House would not support tlie proposal he would ask His Excellency for a dissolution. From that, j it may be judged that the Government ! 5s out-and-out freehold in its policy, and' from the tone of Mr. Russell's interjecI tion it is equally fair to assume that I there is a strong body in the House prepared to go to any practical lengths in favor of the freehold principle. On tli« other hand it does not seem, at the present moment, at all likely that t'he House ■ will be faced with such a serious situation this session. The Government has too much to do to warrant it in forcing the House into such a position during the first session of its existence. Some seven weeks have already gone Hy, and' the Estimates Have not been reached. At any rate the discussion of their details "has not commenced. Before they are through, several weary Hours, spread over many days, will have elapsed, and in between ■whiles an Imprest Supply Bill •will have to He put through. Then there is t'he Public Works Statement and the Estimates connected therewith, J and last of all the Supplementary EstiJ mates. The debate on tlie Public Works s Statement and Estimates will furnish I room for plenty of food for discussion. J It is anticipated that the Government 1 will turn down the co-operative system of constructing public works, and there are quite enough members in t'he House ■ to resent that change of policy with a vigor and fluency that will occupy a considerable amount of time. Then, again, the Government is going to bring down a Loaii Bill for a million and t'hree-quar-ters. The Opposition will Have a good deal to say on that subject, more especially as the Government, when in opposi- ■ tion, had a great objection to borrowing, but more objection to the way in which the loans were expended. A clasfh must occur over the details, and the result should be interesting. In all this there is sufficient to keep the House * going for many solid days. But, in addition, the Government has to carry out its promise of legislation to aope extent at any rate. Time is the essence of the contract at this stage, and it ! is quite on the cards that in orde* to get some business through t'he Prime Minister will He compelled to resort to the driving tactics which he and those associated with him have so strongly deplored in the past. Circumstances, of course, alter cases, but it would appear that the new Prime Minister will discover that in order to achieve one'» political desire one must resort to wellworn political methods. The end of th# session is not yet, but it looks as if it would He marked by lorn; Hours, strenuous debate, and a considerable amount of hard work.