POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 949, 17 October 1910, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

WHEN WILL THE SESSION END? DEBATEABLE MEASURES UN- ■ TOUCHED. The present session of Parliament has already run. into sixteen weeks. And yet "t'li-o amount of \really important work done is very small. The more coi>teutious Government measures, such' as the Land Bill, the Licensing Bill, and the Gaming Bill hare yet to be considered. : The delay in reporting • the Land Bill from the Lands Committee rather strengthens the opinion, that no serious attempt will ■be made by: the Government to pass it into law this session. It is very doubtful, if thei Government could do so without loss of prestige. Tho Gaming Bill-has been referred to a Special Committee and the .general opinion is thai it will become tlaw. '

It is most unlikely that tho Licensing Bill will pass through the House in. its present 1 form. At first many of the No-License people were inclined to think, that it was a good pill based Upon, sound democratic lines.; Upon closer ' examination, however, some of them now aver that it is • a, very cun-ningly-drafted ; measure; and. that it isin 'more senses than one a ''liquor" Bill and one that -wiJlipnt back prohibition many, years if it ,becomes law .in thing like its present form. The combination of the two issues—national and local option—is said to be fatal to : the chances of the Bill passing, because it is recognised that with 'such an issue before them a very large .number- of moderates who have for years been, voting for local No-License wall not vote '.for National Prohibition. :Therefore, unless the issues are separated the Prohibitionists' are likely, to block the Bill. In addition to these contentious measures there is now to be an Electoral Bill which ,is_ snre to orcate, a good deal.of discussion. Then there are the Hme charges. The;' Committee , decided to report on Thursday, but so, far, the Chairman has shown no disposition to present the report. - Indeed,; it may not how see the light of' day .until Sir Joseph Ward's return from the / south. ,It is quite within .the 'bounds of ( possi-; bility that'the . mquiry, if ; referred; 'to the judges, may finis'hed in'.time to allow the report to .be presented during ; the present, session' of Parliament.; In usually well-informed circles it is belioved that tho- session will last: till the end of November. , ■ .

WHAT IS IT WORTH?

' There is a sharp distinction between the vedues placed on the Hospital and. Charitable Aid Bill by the Hon. D. Buddo and' Mr. H. Poland, member for Ohinemuri, Mr. Stallworthy ' inquired'in 1 the House, on Saturday ■ morning ,if the, Bill was to be proceeded with this-session. ; "Yes," replied tho Hon. D. Buddo. ,'<'lt is a very desirable measure, and we intend to : push' it through.", ■ '.■ , This was too much for Mr. Poland.; "What," he incredulously, "the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill? It is not worth twopence."

THE GOVERNMENT STEAMERS.

In the House of Representatives on Saturday morning several members inquired as to the -intentions of .the' Government with reference to the. Government 'steamers; Tutanekai and Hinemoa. •, ■ C;;:;:.;,!'/ : : : As regards tlie Tutanekai, the Hon.] J; A. Millar, stated that she was .finally .intended for cable work. ■'

Mr. Poole (Auckland West), refernng to the. decision, of the Government to dispose of the Hinemoa, urged 1 that it . would, be abetter to: buy a'"steamer; sec-ond-hand at Home than to build a new

Tho Hon. J. A. Millar stated that the Government found it undesirable, to retain the Hinemoa.' . She' waspractically : useless: except;. for, ; the': lighthouse's:-.; What .was wanted . was. a boat ! which could, if required, bring a-cargo of coal., from the';- West/Coast. //". They; did not:intend/to' build/a iiew/bbat,': but to; purchase /one ready/built.lt was intended ito get ■ a vessel ;,which would carry up .to 1, 2000 1 tori's of ;coal. The new :ves-' sol would have to. be 'suitable for knocking v about.'the lighthouses and rocky coasts." A shell-built boat -would be useless. ,/■';■ '/.//';', . . : I• - . ' ■' -xr.■;/' ■' ' "CANCEROUS FILTH.". : "Dangerous filth/; manufactured to bo forced.into;the: arin's of were the words- used .Mr;; E.. II; Taylor on Saturday/morning, in referring to, "a ! vote- of' -£300-i for! "vaccine'--'plant''and the ■preparation of lymph" ill'the Pub-, lie Health Estimates. Hon. D. Buddo ; said the; vote was to guard.; against. an epidemic ; of. smallpox. -.: His conceded that a considerable- section'of ;the community had strong views'on- this matter, and it -was. intends to' bring 'down a Bill dealing with . it. Mr. Tayloj showed symptoms of ; having .something more to say on'ithe : point, but; he was "side-tracked!' through someone moving an amendment- on a later item. .v ' TWO PROJECTED LIGHTHOUSES. The proposals of 'the Government in regard .to the- .erectira.,of- new ;, lighthouses was the-subject of a brief discussion in , tho House of Representatives on Saturday; morning. ' .Replying, to Mr. Harries, the Hon: J. A. Millar, stated .thai some provision -would be : ma.de :in this - respect, in 'the /Public; Works'' Statement. ; It'had been/foundthat thel sito at Flat Point : was unsuitable. Investigations were now proceeding- with a -view to seeing, whether a. ,suitable; site' could be found at Castle-' : point;."' ", Another point where; a" lighthouse was-.to be erected was Gable End, Foreland, but a suitable spot had not yet been found. " : ■ Mr. Wflfo'rd: What about Terawhiti ? ■ Mr. Millar: The. other two aro to be considered first. / Mr. Poole (Auckland West) emphasis•«l! the need' for a better light on Cape t®arewe)l,', as the-'.existing--'light was; un*sa±iafactory. • ••.- , The Hon. J. A. Millar (m reply) said "that the present light was suitable for iall-rottnd - shipping! •< Even a'first-class vlight would not show through: the thick •haze which sometimes prevailed in that

■ locality. ,Tlio; matter would not, how•evor, be lost sight of. -.'

PA-RLfAMENTARY TENWIS TOURNEY.

After sitting trifl 4 o'clock on. Saturday morning on the Estimates, members of the House engaged in the afternoon 1 fin the • annual, tennis tournament—at' least; seme of them .did—and 1 others sent their wives or families to repre-t-sent them. The .three asphalt courts .to Parliament Buildings were : in good order, and the sup shone geni- ■ ally on- the efforts of the legislators' to distinguish themselves with the racket. Soino proved scarcely less at home on fclie tennis : court' tbiin in the political arena; others seemed to have been out of practice since tho last Parliamentary tournament. However, all did their best good-humouredly, and the contests were all jovial, and some were scientific jas; well, ' Mr. . A. M.'. Myersmet Mr. T.'E. Taylor, who had the assistance of Mrs. Myers, in the combined handicap, and worthily upheld tho honour of Auckland East, what time Mr. C. H. Poolo "barracked" from the hank Thereafter .Mr.. Myers and Mr.: 'Taylor joined forces, and performed furflier feats in the men's doubles. The north, in tho person' of Mr. V. H. Reed, renewed its conflict with the south in the person of Mr. Clark, (member for Port Chalmers). Other members -who distinguished themselves . jrer&j,

A. L. Herdman, M.P., and the Hon. | J. T. Paul, M.L.C. Mr. J. Gillon, of I tho Hansard staff, 'had proved a discriminating handicapper, and the games were .all .close. Afternoon tea'was a pleasant incidoirt.' The; semi-finals and finals of the' t combined and , men's doubles handicaps will- be played this afternoon. . . ■ - ... E. A. SMITH AGAIN. Eecently the House of . Representatives showed burning curiosity about E. A: Smith,' the gentleman who was in some way connected with the'-ship-ping business of ■ the' High Commissioner's Office. Some'of the members' are. still curious, but their curiosity has'advanced a stage; They are now anxious to know! what has become of E. A; Smith. : -Mr. Hogg'was. particularly anxious last night to know if tho firm of E. A: : Smith was extinct. Tlie Hon. D. Buddo confessed he did not know. Mr.' Massey asked •if ■. the firm now occupied an office in the same building as the High 1 Commissioner. Agam Mr. Buddo pleaded ignorance. NATIONAL ANNUITIES BILL. The Government is being asked by Mr. Arnold when the National Annuities .'Bill; promised in \the . Governor's Speech, will be introduced.'. The same member' wishes to 'knowi.why there' is such delay in bringing down the return i showing the number of 'charges and convictions for sly grog-selling in licensihg districts, ordered on July 6 last. THE KNYVETT CASE.

A-brief reference to the . Knyvett case was mado in the . Legislative' Council on' Friday by tho Hon. W. Beehan,, Auckland, during the discussion on tho Defence Amendment -.Bill. Mr.. Beehan paid, a tribute to tlie enthusiasm . and efficiency of Mr. Knyvett; and to • the, good - work he had. done for his corps. '■ He (llr. Beehan). regretted the' recent incidents which ;had . ended in- Mr. Khyvett's dismissal. Mr. Knyvett had been badly advised by his friends in Auckland. He ■ was goaded on, aind made reckless and wild ekarges for which he was no doubt sorry to-day., Away from those people who had advised him, Mr.. Knyvett would, in His opinion, prove himself yet. He hoped that the result of the retrial would be' his reinstatement. .. ./' ■' - 7 .. WHAT MEMBERS WANT TO KNOW. ■ Returns' are being asked for by , Mr. Okey showing: the: total >; expenditure by tlie. Government ,in' the township .of Rotorua since taking over, the. control of the town in 1907, and the total amount of revenue received: from all sources during the same period;-also a return ;Showing .'the number and • names of officers 'in the Defence Force receiving; house. allowance, the amount of such in . each casej and whether tho officers aro married or .single., . , The Minister for Labour .-is - being: asked : by Mr. M'Laren whether ho will, take. into consideration the matter of bringing ; down . amending; legislation, next session to chajige .labour Day from; the. present diy in October to a day in . somo other more suitable month in tbo year. . , JUDICATURE AMENDMENT BILLSeveral members raised; strong'objection to-one of the'clauses of the Judicature Amendment Bill when it was before : the Legislative ■ Assembly last week, 'viz.; that empowering the Supremo CNirtto ' order .the ■ execution, ,of : a lease or similar document on. behalf of a defendant who refuses, to do so . himself—being ■ made.' retrospective in , action;. * The ; BiD was reported . by; the Statutes Revision Committee yesterday, when it' was found that the following proviso -had"been; put .in :-r-"The.:section, shall not affect: any.' action; or other, proceeding already commonced in any court or invalidate' anything, heretofore lawfully done or validate, anything .already- declared"■ to. be invalid in' any proceeding in any court.", ;