POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1801, 14 July 1913, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

NEWS AND PROSPECTS. POLICY BILLS & ELECTORAL REFORM. It is not unlikely that tho Address-in-l?eply debate may occupy tho Houso of Representatives until the end of this week. Spoken to on the subject on Saturday, the Primo Minister said that although, to outsiders, the debate might wear tlia nppearanco of being to some extent a waste of time, it was not so iu reality. There were matters which members would ventilate in any case, in. tho Address-in-Beply or in some other debate, and it was just as ■well that theso matters should] bo dis-" posed of early in. the session, so that the House might settle down to business afterwards. 'i'iio Prime Minister still considers it possible that the session may come to an end'by about tho end of October, if there is no obstruction or waste of time. In all probability the Prime Minister will speak in the Addres9-in-l'oply debato to-morrow evening. Mr. J. B. Mine will speak in the afternoon. Mr. G. Laurenson will probably speak for tho Opposition to-morrow, and another likely speaker is Mr. J. A. Hanan. Land and Labour Bills. The bog policy Bills which the Prime Minister has in charge will be referred to committees as soon as they are introduced. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill is ready for final revision by Cabinet, and may be introduced any. day. The sarno applies to the projected amendment of the Shops and Offices Act. The Land Bill is in its final stages, but is not quite so far advanced as tho other measures mentioned, • Electoral Reform. Nothing will be done in tho way of electoral reform so far as the Lower Bouse is concerned, the Prime Minister informed a reporter on Saturday, until Parliament has dealt with the Legislative Council Bill which is now before tho Upper House. No further official information on the subject is obtainable meantime, but tho topic of electoral reform is one that is giving rise to a goad deal of discussion in the lobbies. There has been some talk of trying jiroportionai representation in the cities hrst of all, leaving, in tho meantime, the present system, or the present system minus tho second ballot, in operation in tho country electorates, but this proposal does not seem to command any general favour. It is considered that it would bo a lame attempt at reform. Tho system of preferential voting in single electorates is again being talked about, and seems to bo in pretty general favour at th» moment. Probably it has a fair chanca-of being ultimately adopted, but' so -far as things havo gone, electoral reform of tho Lower House does not seem'to havo taken definite shape. One point that has been raised is that if the Government delays its Electoral Reform Bill until the final session of this Parliament, there might be a difficulty in bringing the new system Into operation at the election falling due In the same year. On the other hand, it is pointed out that the new systeiji need not necessarily be -very elaborate, and it is worth remembering in the same connection that tho Second Ballot Act was passed in tho last days of the session, of 1908, an election year. The Opposition. It will be some while yet before the Opposition party settles down to choose a leader, or to mako-their campaign plans for . the session. They do not intend to do anything until Sir Joseph Ward returns, and by the time, hi? has returned the party will be about at full strength again. At present they are four members short. In tho meantime, during the progress of the dlebato the arrangements have been made almost entirely by tho party Whip. One of the committee of fivo stated on Saturday that he thought the debato would probably lost until the end of the week. Board of Agriculture. The constitution of a Board, of Agriculture on lines which have been gonerally indicated in and ojit of the House will probably oome up for consideration at about the end of this month. It is un-J officially stated that Mr. J. G. Wilson, of Palmerston North, is practically certain to be selected as chairman \>f the now boaTd. Forestry Commission Report. The roport of the Forestry Commission, the Prime Minister stated yesterday, will be ready for presentation to Parliament to-morrow or on Wednesday. It has been delayed in-the Government Printing Office' but is now almost Heady. Timber Exhibits. Several samples of the lesser known New Zealand and foreign timbers, which were submitted to the Forestry Commission during their sittings, are now 011 viow in the lobby of the House of Representatives. Prominent amoug the specimens . are two well-preserved posts," supplied by Mr. R. Reynolds, of- Cambridge.. These posts were taken from eucalyptus macarthuri (red gum) trees. Both havo been taken out of tho ground in a perfectly sound condition. One was put in twonty years ago, and it was then 'on[y 19 years old. The sap, which was an inch' and a quarter thick, is the only portion that has decayed, tho remainder of tho post being in a splendid state of preservation. Another pest of tho same wood, likewiso supplied by Mr. Reynolds, is also on view. Mr. Iteynolds has made a special study of timbers, and has collected -a valuable fund of information on tho subject. Other timbers on exhibition include sawn and dressed specimens of the pinus radiata, European larch, Lombaidy poplar, Califomian redwood tariare, mountain cedar, silver pins, and beech, and the western yellow pine. Tags arc appended, showing how quickly some of the timbers grow, and the collection affords a useful object lesson. • Committee Inquiries. Quite .possibly tho special inquiries which await tho attention of the Lands Committee may be Tcferred to this week. The subjects of inquiry include land aggregation, £1. Southland ballot of some months ago, in connection with 1 which tho Opposition press alleged that irregularity had occurred, and tho Canterbury matter mentioned by Mr. G. W. Forbes in the Housa on Friday. Tho special committee sefc up on the motion of the-Hon. F. M. B. Fisher to inquire into the circumstances attending recent appointments to the Wostport Harbour Board will meet early this weolc to elect a chairman and L>ko other', necessary preparations.