POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 254, 20 July 1908, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE. WORK OF PARLIAMENT,

OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEK.

Quite a number of members still ■ desir® . to speak .in the Financial Debate, and it is • probable that it will .last until Thursday night. In tho Council, tho Judiciary Bill is down for second reading on Friday, and if this is not again postponed, it will doubt- - less bo tlie feature of tho week. Tho order : •paper for tho intervening-days contains onljr.n-' < ono notice of motion,, the third reading .of, tlio Society of Accountants Bill, and tho. , committal of tho Incorporated Societies Bill, the Inforior Courts Procedure Bill, the Law Praotitionors Amendment Bill,.the terpretation < Amondment Bill, and -tho Town Boards Amondment Pill. It is not expected that any, of-theso will occupy , very much, time,' . : The Council has been adjourned un- . til Wednesday. - . ; members' AMD FLEET WEEK. From present appearances., it seems likely-, that nbt more than "thirty out of 'the eighty members of tho Lower; House' will' proceed ■ to Auckland for Fleet' Week. •;> A'-, larger", number of names was originally handed, in,: ; .but .it seems that a : number', of .members •' were under the impression that the Govern-: mont intended paying their hotel and'travelling -'expenses,. 1 Finding' such riot to be the ■ case,'-sqveral are dropping , out of -:the list. There is, however,-some-talk of a-deputa-tion to tlio Prime Minister on the. sub- '. ject, tho opinion being expressed'that ha';.,, members will in a sense be the ambassadors of Now Zealand on a notable; international.occasion, the country should -pay • all expenses. - ' -V ■ 'j- ... • V CRASS SEED. The Hon. W.vW. M'Oardle. states' that -' many settlers in the King Country were, unable to tako advantage of. the prompt . and timely assistance, of tlio Government in .sup--' plying grass seed on easy torms,'-and; al-. though tho-Auckland Land Board has granted relief by remitting rent to some settlers,, cases that aro said -to be more deserving , and that - have received'' promises -of .'.relief from the Commissioner of Crown Laridß have- iboeji overlooked. Accordingly, Mr., M'Cardlo,: intends to move in tho .Council: "That ■ the # .■-.. attention of the ■ Govg'riment be caHod -io ■ the long delay -in extending relief, : to a number of sottlers who mot . with heavy, losses, through" the great fires.'that'''swept . a large' portion of the newly-settled wug.. - Country. - ■ ..•■ \. •. '[ .'; i,'. THE SECOND BALLOT. Members'aro rather reticent as to their .opinions on the Second Ballot Bill. Of course, they all recognise that, if . passed, it may have a considerable . effect upon, their, . joint and several chances of, re-election, hjlt as to what that effect precisely will be they , are not very- clear. There is a widespread feeling that tho .people do not care enough, about politics to turn up in strong force for a second "and naturally less, exciting visit :to:,tho polling booths a week or .a fortnight aftsr , general election.day. The effect of the second, ballot on tho number of.;candidates that may come forward is regarded as uncertain. The -■ chief motive for the efforts of party'managers in inducing superfluous candidates to • - : down will if . tho terrors of. votespoiling becomo a thing of tho past. , This ,ia exemplifiedin the Manawatu electorate, where' Mr. F.- W. Frankland,--wh<) retired in - , favour.of Mr. John Stevens'at.-tho last,con-: ,!,., test, has now publicly,declared'Wiat ha will-, . stand if tho-Second'Ballot Bill is passed. In this connection, another considbratipn'is sug- , gested. ■ Under a 'system' of second .ballots.-;. "• there is likely. to -be,' among the", successful-, candidates,' an increased proportion of'.men who have riot been officially selected by either , / . party,, and. these will naturally riot be bound', by such close ties of loyalty as those'having - tho " hall-mark." Second ballots may, thoro fo're, R "be' 'expected to somewhat weaken tho party system. With such-jntrijiate un- „ certain issues at stake, it is, not t tq be. wondered .at that members are-rather .reluctant 'to express opinions.' There be no ground for the rumoUr. that the; Premier is . weakening "in his resolution to . put the Bui through, ,