POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 301, 14 September 1908, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE ARBITRATION BILL. It seems that proceedings on the Arbitration Bill were of a harmonious character. Divisions were few and far between; indeed, there seems to have been only one. division of importance. When Clause 7, regarding tho needs and exertion wage, was reached the Hon. J. A. Millar, it is said, moved that it stand part' of the Bill. His only supporters were, it is believed, two Opposition members (Messrs. Hardy and Bollard).; The Bill, as presented to Parliament, bore on • its face evidences of hasty preparation; iSotiie:" amendments were made in ■red ink' and others by means of slips of paper pasted on the Bill. Tho work on the Bill was not completed until 1 p.m. on Friday. The feeling amongst members regarding the amendments made to the > Arbitration Bill by the Labour Bills Committee is on the \vhole a' favourable one. The striking out of the provision in regard to the imprisonment of . strikers is regarded as only what might have been expected, and it is considered Ly some members that the clauses providing for the alteration in the method of attachment of wages and the suspension of the benefits of registration in the event of. strikes ; should be sufficient to meet the necessities of the case. : ' A HARBOUR EXCURSION. About, twenty mombers of both Houses of the Legislature. gladly accepted tho invitation of the Hon. 11. MvNab'to a run to Soames .Island in tho Janie Seddon on Saturday afternoon. 'There was just sufficient breeze afloat ■ to, blow away the cobweb's of the week,' and. to infuse new life into the jaded Parliamentarians, whilo tho feminino influence, of wives and .daughters of the trippers gave a picnic atmosphere to the outing. After a brisk run across the' harbour the Janie Seddon poked her porky nose alongside the, little wharf on which goods and foods and chattels for the Soames Islanders are landed, and tho party, stepping, or springing, ashore, made their way up the winding pathway to tho picturesque heights of the island; Tho neat quarantine buildings were inspected. In one was an Ibex sheep, in another a number of prettilymarked deer; one or two dogs wero incarcerated in'comfortable quarters. Tho buildings and surroundings were' examples of tidiness and cleanliness, and oven : the ladies invaded tho quarter's of the imported animals and timidly ventured to stroko them. "I have lived in ' Wellington 20 years and have never yet visited Soames Island," said a member of the party. The person addressed responded with the remark that ho had lived hero 15 years without tho pleasureable oxporienco.- Possibly thcro arc many moro in Wellington who may also say tho* same. Thoy will find tho little' island an exceedingly pretty spot, and' well worth tho visit, especially if, like the Parliamentary party, they havo afternoon tea in tho bright sun in'the sheltered. spot overlooking the land-' ing-place. On Saturday afternoon this locality rang to the tuno of laughter and chorus. It also was hallowed with a Ministerial speech, for, when tho last cup had been handed in, tho Speaker (the Hon.. A. R. Guinness), having proposed tho health of the Minister for Lands (the host), the Hon. R. 31' Nab was called upon for a reply, which: he give, and which elicited three hearty' cheers. ; By this' timo the shadows were lengthening. Tho grassy slopes -were descended, and' tho Janie Seddon was once moro, boarded. Tho homeward trip was across to tho edge of the Petone shoals, then down, at the best speed of the little boat, along the northern shore lino of the harbour, and'-back-past the Amokura to tlie Government wharf, which was reached at 5.30 o'clock. The outing was most enjoyable, and it is riot unlikely that other weekend, excursions will bo held before Parliament; rises, i' ''. - ■ ' ■ • • ■ DAIRY REGULATIONS. , When , the now dairy regulations were before the, House on Friday there was some suggestion on the, part of members that isttlers were apprehensive of their probable severity'. ; Mr..- Massey expressed tho hope that no laws likely to harass the dairymen would be adopted Ho said that rumours had already been rife that this was likely to happen. A. reply was elicited from the Prime Minister that the endeavour of the Government had always boon to assist the dairy industry, and they were not likely to. do anything to. harm it. Their whole desire was to improve the quality,of the product,, and the regulations wero .to that end. The Hon. R. M'Nab spoke on much tho same lines, and said full opportunity would be given for the opinions of experts to be obtained in Select Committee. Several of the members who supported Mr. Wilford's motion to add a new clause to tho' Education ' Bill providing for uniform school books have received telegrams from school teachers in different parts of tho Dominion, urging them not to jeopardise the passage of the Bill by insisting upon the addition of the new clause. In ■ tho report of tho interview with Mr. Arnold, which appeared on Saturday morning, that member was made to say that "ho thought, that if tho parties could be thus brought together in 1 friendly conforence at least 75 per cent, of the disputes would bo settled by the intervention of the Court." As the context shows tho sentence should read: "Without tho intervention of the Court."