POLITICAL ITEMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 133, 12 June 1909, Page 6

POLITICAL ITEMS.

PROGRESS OF BUSINESS. Ib is generally understood that the debato on the Address-in-Reply, now proceeding, will be over at a sufficiently early hour this evening to obviate the necessity of members breaking the Sabbath. It is hoped that before the House rises till Monday the Chairman of Committees, who is to be (Mr. Wilford, will be elected. On Monday, in that case, the Prime Minister will tiring down his financial proposals, and it is anticipated by tho Government that the business of the session will be got i through by Wednesday or Thursday. AN INTERLUDE. The outstanding incident of this morning J s proceedings in Parliament was provided by the Hon. A. W. Hogg. In referring to land monopoly, he asked with a flourish, "Why am I a land na- v tionaliser?" The Hon. T. Mackenzie had just entered the Chamber, and sat down by the speaker. "I am glad," interjected Mr. Buchanan, "that the Minister of Agriculture sits beside you." The Hon. Mr. Mackenzie had evidently only returned to get a paper, and he immediately left. This was looked upon as a hasty retreat from his colleague, and the Opposition laughed accordingly. From this the hon. gentleman made a wide divergence, and proceeded to entertain the members by reading a menu for a "swell" dinner. He toiled valiantly with the French, and endeavoured to show that any of the items named could be grown on a twenty-acre farm. Mr. Hogg's pronunciation of the items had the effect of causing members to lay prostrate in their seats, convulsed with laughter. But still the Minister went on with renewed vigour to the edification of everybody except bis Ministerial colleagues. The analogy had nothing to do with the subject under discussion, but, as one critic put it, "ib served to introduce to the House the new heavy comedian of the Ministerial troupe." RETURNS WANTED. There are a certain number of Parliamentary papers which, by law, are required to be laid on the table of the House within certain limited periods after Parliament assembles. The list of such papers was presented to the House yesterday,' and the Leader of the Opposition took advantage of the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister if the Railways Statement and the Defence Report would be furnished to members before Parliament pi'orogued. The Prime Minister said he would, enquire into the matter, but he did not hold out much hope that either of the two reports mentioned would make their appearance this session. - A QUESTION OF EMPLOYMENT. In the House this morning, Mr. D. M'Laren gave notice to ask the Government if it would cause enquiry to be made into the manner of engaging men in connection with, the work at the new Governor's residence. The information he had, he said, was that the work was started seven days before the Lalsbur Departmsnt knew anything about it, that many men had not been engaged through the Labour Department, but that some had been engaged by references sent to the foreman in charge, otheis were engaged by the engineer, and others by the foreman. Sir Joseph Ward said that if Mr. M'Laren would see the Minister of Public Works he uould get all the information he desired. In a matter of this kind, where important work was being carried out by the Public Works Department, that department did not usually take the course which apparently Mr. M'Laren was suggesting. It was the business of the department to provide a sufficient number of men for the work. MINISTER FOR LABOUR. The chief topic of conversation in the lobbies this afternoon is the speech delivered this morning by the Minister for Labour (Hon. A. W. Hogg). Especially is a section of the Ministerial Party concerned as to Mr. Hogg's remarks about the leasehold. '"Where do we come in?" ask those Government followers who are pledged to the freehold, with, of course, limitation. They were, it is stated, fully of the belief that amending land legislation would be brought down during the term of office of the present Government, legislation more in accordance with their freehold views than that ab present on the Statute Book, and they express themselves as amazed at the outspokenness of a member of the Government, in op position to their freehold leanings. Mr. T. E. Taylor was this afternoon granted a week's leave of absence on account of illness in his family. Sir W. J. Steward was also granted a week's leave, on the ground of urgent private business.