POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2502, 1 July 1915, Page 6

POLITICAL AFFAIRS

THE NATIONAL CABINET LEADERS CONFER TO-DAY The proposal made by tho Prime Mia» ister on Tuesday night inviting- the Leader of the Opposition to confer with him on the establishment of a National Cabinet is still nothing more than a proposal. But the Leader of the Opposition made a statement concerning it in the House yesterday referring to a conference between the Prime Minister and himself, w/iicli conference had been suggested by the Prime Minister. Sir Joseph Ward said that speaking in tho House on Tuesday regarding a National Cabinet he had made the statoment that it would bo recognised that ail Opposition, in a minority under any circumstances, would not and could not move in a matter of supreme importance such as that. "1 hold that opinion even more strongly," continued the Leader of the Opposition, "after considering the matter.. I may say that I am prepared to consider the suggestion mads by the Prim© Minister, but the onus lies on liim. He has, since the House met to-day, invited me to meet him to-morrow morning, and I shall do bo to better consider the proposals he may put forward. 1 make the statement, for, the matter having been brought up in the House last night, it may not be understood what my position is. 1 have been asked if I am doing anything, and as 1 am not .the mover I wish to make my position perfectly clear." "I am pleased," said the Prime Minister, "to hear the reply of the Leader of the Opposition. Of course, the initiative rests with the Government, and I accept responsibility in connection with that. I have moved officially, and I am glad that the Leader of the Opposition intends to come to-morrow morning to discuss the matter with me." A RECIPROCITY ARRANCEMENT. Reciprocity under the Workers' Com" pensation for Accidents Act, which hat been in operation between New Zea> land and the States of Queensland, West Australia, and South Australia for some time! has now been established between the Dominion and Victoria. Under this arrangement, wKicb also exists between New Zealand and Great Britain, the relatives of a worker who is killed or injured in the Dominion receive tho compensation, allowed by law. if they are not residents of the Dominion, provided that they reside in one of tho States with which a reciprocity treaty has been arranged. Similarly if there are relatives in New Zealand of a worker killed or injured in one of the other States, they receive compensation. New South Wales and Tasmania are tho only Australian States which have not yet agreed to take advantage of the provisions for reciprocity contamed in the Now Zealand Act. The initial steps for the arrangement for reciprocity with Victoria were taken by. the Prime Minister, Mr. Massey, a coll.' siderable time ago. • UNPRECEDENTED SPEED. For the three working days that have passed, this session is one of the most remarkable on record. The Addiess-in-Reply motion, which is usually debated for a fortnight, occupied less than two hours. The Loan Bill, the biggest lo.ni Bill submitted to the Netv Zeala-nd House for over 40 years, occupied.the House for a very small part of two days, perhaps two hours in all, and under normal conditions this Bill would have kept the House engaged in all its stages for four sitting days, which means a week. All this means that in. three days the Houso has done as much; effective work as is usually done m as many weeks. If this rate of progress continues the session will be very short 'indeed, perhaps shorter than the most daring optimists . have predicted. In some respects this speedy dispatch or business threatens to become embarrassing. The Bills now before the House should not prove difficult to deal with, and when they are out of the way, : the Finanoial Statement should come next in order of business. But it is not yet ready. The Prime Minister-stated 'yesterday that it was in preparation, and that it would probably be ready, for. the printer next week. It seems just possible that the House may be ready, to receive it before it is ready.for.presentation, for m view of the fact that the taxation proposals will , l » , ; in the Budget it is unlikely that the taxing Bill or Bills will come down-be-fore the Budget. In the same wa* the j'ublic Works Statement will ha\e to be expedited. Usually it ispregnted about three, months after tl ™. meets, but it is highly improbable.that the House will, sit for three montliß. The Statement is in preparation now. THE OPPOSITION WHIPS. The Opposition AVhips appointed fof this Parliament are Mr. G., • Forbes (Hurunui), Mr- W. J. Dickie (Selwyn), Hon. A. T. Ngata pastern Maori). ' ■