POLITICAL NOTES!

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16947, 25 October 1920, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES!

Special to "the press.")

WELLINGTON, October 24

i Important Works. ■ T;.<? Public Works Statement does not disclose the main works that under the new policy are likely to bo pushed to a conclusion. There will probably be one in the South, and two in the North ;' Island. ■ There can be little or no doubt that the- Otira tunnel will be tho one in the South Island. It is a work involving a large expenditure In tho I North tho principal works likely to Ikj ' singled out for early completion are the 1 Taurnnra -and Fast Coast section of the East Coast Main Trunk line, and a section of the North Auckland Slain Trunk line. Both lines will open iin a lot of fertile land, more especially the former line, which will tap the ltangataiki swamp and the lands about WhakaHne, where the freezing industry is being developed, with the valleys'of the Urewera country adjoining. Monday's Business. ; The business for to-morrow night will not bs of a contentious nature. There are two sets of questions to bo discussed, and, after that, one of the less important Bills before tho House— probably tho Explosives Bill—will be taken. . . It is still hoped to finish the session bv Saturday week, but any prolonged discussion oil one or two matters would upset nresent calculations on this subject. " ' j After the Session. j It is not at all likely that the Prime j Minister will be able to attend the coming Imperial Conference, as there will bo so many matters requiring his attention in'tho Dominion. After the! session ho will travel through New Zealand to seo as much of the country and tho oeon-Ie as will be possible in the timo'at'his disposal. In the recess it is also his intention to pay a visit to Samoa, to see for himself how things aro going there. Sir Francis Bell.

During a recent discussion on the Civil List "Bill, Mr Massey mentioned that Sir William Fraser, who is a member of the Executive, was doing a good deal of work in connexion with . the government of the country, and that it was necessary for the Leader of tho Upper House to h*ve some assistance. He added that this would be more necessary still later on. Mr Massey s remark 'is understood to refer to the possible abseire of Sir Francis Bell durinn- next session, or a part of the session. Sir Francis, who has undertaken .an enormous amount of work, and who has done it with remarkable ability, will leaW for England about April next. Armour and Co. There is a possibility that the discussion on the question of granting a meat export license to Armour and Co. will come on again in the House of Representatives. It is understood that those supporting the petition are not very anxio'us to come to a division, seeing that they would probably be beaten bv almost three to one. The chances are, therefore, that tho report of the Committee will be again "talked out, or agreed to on the voices. Whatever happens, the present law is likely to remain m force, and Armour's will not get a license from this Parliamont. Totalisator Permits. Tho amendment made by tho Legislative Council in tho Gaming Act Amendment Bill (No. 2) does not take away the power of the proposed Commission to recommend an increase in tho number of totalisator permits, but takes away the power of tho Government to issue an Ofdcr-m-Council increasing the number of permits upon tho Commis-irn's recommendation.