POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 859, 4 July 1910, Page 6

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS. Things wore fairly quiet politically during tlio week-end. Although lucre were siivuviu deputations to. Ministers ou Saturday, oiuy one' of them, which hud regard to tlio JlocKcu collcctiuu at Dun-e-din, was of a public character, but there will be an important deputation irom t'ho Trades aud Jjabour Council to tlio Prime Minister this evening, It has been arranged that the Ix-gislafivo Council shall hold a sitting this aiternoon for tho purpose of electing a Speaker. The House Hoes not resume until to-morrow aiternoon when tho debute on tho Ad-dri'ss-in-Keply will bo resumed. Although it scorned probable thot tho debate might fall through on Friday there is now every likelihood that it will not bo finished until tho end of the week.

SPEAKER OF THE COUNCIL. There is only one nomination for the position of Speaker of tho Council, viz., that of tho retiring Speaker, Sir Chas. Bowcn, who is extremely popular among tho members of both branches of the Legislature.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. The Legislative Council Deform Bill, which has been introduced in the Lower Huuso by Mr. G. W. Kussell, M.P. for Avon, provides that the present Council shall go out of office at the conclusion of the current Parliament. If the measure wero adopted tho existing Council would be superseded by a Council consisting of half tho number of members of the Lower House elected on the same qualification and franchise as is in vogue in connection with the Lower House. It is further proposed that the electoral districts shall be grouped into groups of four, aud that there shall bo two members for each group who shall be elected under a preferential system of voting. •Viter the first election the members would hold their seats for three years when tho members who received the smaller number of votes .in respect ot each group would drop out. Thenceforward members would hold their seats for a period of six years.

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE. Tt is stated that Mr. G? W. Busscll, M.P. for Avon, will introduce a Bill having for its object the acquisition of all land within a stipulated radius of the route of the South Island 11am Trunk line between Mina and \Vard, the present railheads so that. the State may realise unearned increment resulting from the extension.

CHAIRMANSHIP OF COUNCIL. The latest time at which nominations for the position of Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council could bo received was 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. It was found that there was unly one nomination—that of the Hon. W. C. P. Carncross, of Taranaki. Mr. Carucross was an aspirant for the position on more than one occasion previously.

WILL PRISON-GATE HOMES BE NEEDED? Asked by a Dominion reporter whether it was a fact, as had been reported, that under his prison reform scheme prisongate homes might be unnecessary, the lion. Dr. Findlay stated that there would still bo room for all such institutions, but not to the same extent as was now tho case.

INSURANCE OF WORKERS. The National Sick and Accident Insurance Bill, which has been introduced by tho Hon. A. K. Guinness, is tho same measure that was introduced by the member for Grey last year. It proposes to insure all workers against sickness and accident during the whole' 24 hours of the day. The definition of "worker" is anyone working for wages in any trade. It is'proposed under the Bill that the Government shall act as the insurers, and that the premiums shall be paid in the following proportions—one-fourth by tho workers, and three-fourths by tho employers. If tile measure were approved it would mean that the Government will have a monopoly of tho accident insurance business. The proposal may meet with tho endorsement of many Radicals, but it will find numerous opponents on both sides of tho House.

REEFTON RAILWAY WORKS. Instructions have been given by tho Hon. K. M'Kenzie (Minister for 'Public Works) that all married. workers on Hie Reefton-Inangahua railway construction works who hud notice of dismissal shall bo kept in employment. If there is not any work at plate-laying, the workers in question are to be sent ahead to push forward the work of clearing tho route.

MINERS WANT A HALF HOLIDAY. It is proposed, under the' Hon. A. R. Guinness's Half Holiday for Gold and Coal Miners Bill that the day of the half holiday shall be Saturday. This is the first time that a measure having such an object has been introduced. Speaking to a Dominion reporter on the subject. Mr. Guinness said that his proposal would be certain to bo well supported, as there had been a great outcry among the miners for a half holiday weekly. After the Bill has been read a second time, it will 1m referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee. "If," added Mr. Guinness, "any objection is raised to tho proposal I shall ask for Jeave to have evidence brought from the West Coast, particularly licefton."

MR. MYERS AND THE OPPOSITION. Aa interesting rejoinder, is made by Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, to the statement in the Ministerial organ iii Wellington thai, one of the objects of Mr. Mandor's amendment regarding tho North Auckland railway during the Imprest Supply Bill debate was to try and capture the vote of Mr. Myers, tlie now AucMaud member, for the first division of the session. To a Dominion reporter, Mr. Massey stated that there was not a tittle of truth in the statement. As a matter of fact, the Opposition had not tho slightest desire to get Mr. Myers on their side. "How any member outside my own party records his vote," continued Mr. Massey, "is a matter of almost total indifference to roe. We propose motions or call for divisions, not in the hope of securing a majority, but for the purpose of recording our votes for or against a proposal or a principle, and also very often with a view to giving Government supporters an opportunity of expressing disapproval or the reverse of tho objectionable methods of Ministers. It does not appear to have dawned upon the very limited nyrelligeuco of tho local Ministerial journal that, from a party point of view it often s-uits me much better if Government supporters vote against the really democratic proposals that from time to timo are moved from the Opposition sido of tho House."

JOTTINGS. Mr. Keri Toko to Ahu states that, he will contest the- Northern Maori electorate in the Opposition interests at the next election. Mr. P. H. Buck, M.P. for the Northern Maori electorate, returned by the Tahmo on Friday night from the Cook Islands, whero for the past five months he has been acting as health officer.

It is understood that Mr. G. W. Russell, M.P. for Avon, may be a candidate for tho position of Chairman of Committees in Hie House.