POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 92, 4 September 1912, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

REFORM BILL'S PROSPECTS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Last Night. The opinion is expressed in well-in-formed political circles that the Legislative Council Reform Bill is not likely to reach the House this session. One of the chief reasons, possibly, is that tluCouncil considers the constitutional position so important that it must receive the most careful consideration before any definite steps are taken, and it would be an admission of weakness if the Council admitted anything in the nature of dictation where such drastic changes are concerned. The fact that the Hon. ,1. D. Ormond will take up a hostile attitude on the Bill cannot fail to carry weight. It is said in view of the fact that Mr. Ormond is one of the oldest members of the Council and an upholder of the views of the Government, the opinion is gaining ground that his amendment, holding over further consideration until the electors may be given an opportunity of considering the proposal, will be carried. THE DEFENCE ACT. DEFAULTERS AND JUNIOR CADETS. j i ; Regarding the Defence Act and the I steps the Government proposed to take in relation thereto, the Minister for Del fence (Hon. J. Allen) told a representa- | tive to-day that it was obvious that the Act is defective, and he was getting the necessary amendments drafted as quickly as possible, more especially in reference to the punishment to be meted out to defaulters. That punishment would be military detention, instead of imprisonment. but it need not necessarily be assumed that the detention would be in barracks. It might be in camps. The defaulter, he added, could not be let off the law with regard to defence ser- j Tice. He was in the same position as, •' with any other law. If a young person' did not go to school, for instance, someone had to pay the penalty, and the same principle anplied in regard to the { Defence Act. The question of defence, ! he added, had never been a party ques- | tion, and the Bill would be put through this session if the House would put it through. "And," he added, "I am going to do my level best to put it through." In regard to junior cadets, the Minister said that he hoped to be able to say ' something on the subject before the end |of the session. At present all he could > say was that physical drill on scientific 1 principle would form the basis of junior cadet training. The legislation on the ] Statute Book, he added, was very lmper- ? feet, and a strong endeavor would be 1 made this session to make it as perfect as possible. He intended to bring in a j consolidating measure this year.