POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 115, 1 October 1912, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE SESSION'S WORK. By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night.

The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) hopes to see the session ended! by October 26 at the latest, but, judged i by p;ist experience, forecasts in this direction are always more or less optimistic. As to the Government's programme, Mr. Massey says: "We propose to put through all the important Bills already announced. A Defence Bill will be introduced, and Parliament will be asked to place it upon the Statute Book. The Valuation Bill, an important Bill, though not a policy measure, dealing with native matters, and a Land Agents i Registration Bill, on the lines of that introduced by Mr. Witty, are all to be dealt with this session. There will be a debate on the principles of the proposed reform of the Legislative Council, [ and the House will be asked to pass the Bill reducing the term of appointment of Legislative Councillors to three years. Other legislative proposals to be carried through deal with military and widows' pensions; the flaw in the law which per-j mits the employment of unregistered barmaids in private bars, and the matter of water pollution. Legislative authority will also be sought this session for the proposed system of loans to local bodies, under which the State will pay the sinking fund. There will be a big washing-up Bill, and a number of minor legislative proposals are also to be de'alt with. Still anp.ther important measure will be the Loan Bill,' which will provide for the borrowing".of .£c1,750,000 for public works. The sum.'o'f £100,000! is to be borrowed for the .State-coal.mines, and £25,000 for Hauraki Plains drainage." l ''' '.-

, GRANTS TO, W;IBOWS

Rumor has it that the Government intends to introduce <this session an amendment to the Widows'- Pensions Act, extending the benefit-of the scheme to women whose 'husbands; are inmates of mental hospitals/ '; ;

THE PUBLIC WQRKS STATEMENT.

It is probable .that.the' Public Woi'ks Statement will be delivered on Thursday •r Friday next. Generally tihe majority of members'.'appear to beliere that the session will end: ajtyout the iMt week in October. ;

SMALL .SETTLEMENTS. ; The "Government proposes to- establish small farm settlements on the gum lands of North Auckland! Experiments have shown that this land is- very suitable for fruit-farming. Eventually it •is hoped to extend the scheme to different parts of New Zealand. ~

WORKERS'■.'SOMES;

The question of providing workefe' homes in the country districts is also being considered. This matter will be dealt with when the Land Bill is under consideration. i