LOBBY GOSSIP

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2218, 3 August 1914, Page 4

LOBBY GOSSIP

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. i — Cabinet was busy on Saturday afteriipoii putting tlio final touches to tlio Financial Statement, which, under present arrangements, will bo presented to the House by the Minister of Finance about Thursday next. The Financial Debate will probably open on Tuesday next. The Railways Statement, including the report of the General Manager of Railways,' will bo presented within a few days, in time to be made uso of in the Financial Debate.

THE LICENSING BILL. The Licensing Bill will probably not come up for third reading in the House until about the end of the week. When the Bill was reported from Committeo on Friday night, tlie Prohibition section. were' still undecided as to whether they should move, on the third reading, to recommit the Bill, with a view to restoring the clause which provided for_ reducing the National Prohibition majority, to 55 per cent. The Prohibition inenjbers in. the House, it is "stated, took the view that it. would he w;ise to leave matters as they stood rather thjin risk a reduction of . the majority which tho Bill secured at its second reading,' but the Alliance Executive dissented from this opinion, and were inclined to press for a motion to recornmit. It is now considered probable that- the supporters of tho Bill will be allowed to have their way, and that the idea of attempting to have it recommitted will be dropped. Mr. Isitt's statement in Friday's dobate, that if members had universally adhered to their pledges the Bill would ha.ve secured a clear majority of'ten votes, does not seem to be generally accepted ,as correct. One prominent member of the House, who was spoken to yesterday, expressed the opinion that if the' proposal to eliminate local had. been agreed to, the Bill would have easily secured a majority, and that the refusal of the Alliance Executive to accept this compromise necessarily involved the rejection of the'Bill. The same member suggested that in his remark about a majority of ten, Mr. Isitt had probably claimed as supporters of the Bill several members who are committed to tlio reduction of the National Prohibition majority to 55 percent, only on condition .that tho local option issue is eliminated.

THE REFERENDUM BILL. The. hearing of evidence upon the petitions regarding the Referendum Bill will probably bo resumed to-mor-row, when it is expected that Bishop Cleary will appear before the Education Committee of the House of Representatives for cross-examination upon his evidence Tecently delivered. Judging from such statements as are made in the lobbies, the essential point of divergence between the opposed par- ; ties on the Referendum Bill arises from flio grouping of the two issues of Bible-reading and right of entry for clergymen in a. single question to the electors. An amendment will undoubtedly be moved, having for its obiect tlie separation of tlie issues, arid it is believed that it will-be heavily supported. . BILLS IN PROSPECT. The Local Grants and Bill, which provides for setting up a nonpoliticai board of three members; to control the allocation of- Stat6 grants and subsidies .in aid of development work, and the Land Bill are bot"h likely to be introduced this week. DODGING THE DOORS. In oiie of the divisions on the .Licensing Bill .tlie'-other, evening, a South Island .member oh the Liberal. side of 'the H</use, 'it" is stated, came in 'through the passage- leading . between the Public Gallery .and tlie Ladies' Gallery, and took part in a division bfter the doors' had' been locked, notwithstanding tho remonstrance of a messenger.. Such action is,>of course, a breach of tho Standing Orders, andmight easily influence an important decision. Exactly the same thing was done by another member during a previous session of Parliament. '