POLITICAL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 87, 11 October 1915, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES

WHEN WILL THE SESSION END? . . MINISTERS' DEPARTMENTAL DUTIES. It is impossible to state with any hope of accuracy the hour, or date, when Parliament will end. • Every effort will be made by the Government to conclude, particularly as virtually all of the important work is now done. Members have considerable power in protracting proceedings, and a good deal will depend upon the spirit of the representatives of the people. One outstanding feature is that the hold-up at the tail-end of the session has held over measures that have no national importance whatever, though those who have spoken upon them have pointed to principles which have | governed their actions. Some of the Bills which have been designed to deal with specific matters are of the nature of those usually dropped if contention is read into I them by any section of the House, the responsibility for their abandonment, or postponement for a year, being placed upon the opposing factions. The spirit of members in regard to this phase of the situation will be displayed, no doubt, when Parliament meets. It is known that the Government desires the end of Parliament to enable the leaders to devote their attention to matters of outstanding imporance in the present stage of the nar tional crisis. So many special departments have been created in connection with war matters that the Ministers in whose charge they have been placed require all the time they can get to attend to them. There seems no reason, unless organised or deliberate attempts are made to the contrary, why Parliament should not wind up to-night or tomorrow, PARTY AND CHANGES. Looking backward over th© session — since the formation of the National Ministry — one sees well how things have changed since the old party days. More than one Reform Minister has been criticised sharply by followers of Mt. Massey, and occasionally members on the seats opposite to the Treasury benches have risen to the defence of Ministers whom they had fought pitilessly during normal times. Sir Joseph Ward has felt impelled, now and then, to chide some of the Liberals, and, altogether, things political have been well mixed. Reviewing the past three' months, a veTy observant member remarked that in the early weeks of the new regime — with the suspension of party warfare and relaxation of discipline — members did not feel that they had any responsibility. Bat lately, among a majority, a change had. been noticeable; they recognised that the National Ministry might be a lasting institution., and that the Government deserved the loyalty and support of every moderate-thinking mam. BUSINESS FOR TO-DAY. The business set down for Parliament to-day and to-night comprises the whole of the remaining Bills. The Railway Authorisation Bill stands first, then comes the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, which contains the clause dealing with the system of valuing city leases, which caused so much debate on Friday night. Next comes the Defence Amendment Bill, University Amendment Bill, both uncontentious, and after that the Legislative Council Amendment Bill. A good deal of discussion may arise out of the latter, though, being the prodxict of both parties, it will no doubt have been arranged with an eye to suit both parties, and, therefore, need not necessarily produce a big debate. The Factories Act Amendment Bill, which is th© measure against which so much hostility was Bhown on Friday by Labour members, is placed immediately before two Labour Bills — one of which is to remedy the victimisation that is alleged on the water fronts in Auckland and Greymouth — and this will obviously mean that any obstruction to the Factories Act Amendment Bill will endanger the Bills which the Labour representatives want. MR. FLETCHER'S PERSISTENCY. One of Mr. R. Fletcher's pet themes for a long time past has been the advocacy of the introduction of municipal trawlers as a means of assuring for the public a very valuable commodity at a reasonable price. In season and out of season,' Mr. Fletcher, believing that he is on sound lines, has propounded the proposal. As a city councillor, his views aTe well known on the subject, and in the course of his political campaigns he has also advocated the idea. At last he has seen the reward of his efforts, for it was at his suggestion that Sir Joseph Ward, in Committee on the Cost of Living Bill, moved an amendment framed by Mr. Fletcher, providing for the establishment, equipment, and maintenance by borough councils of trawlers for the purpose of engaging in fishing, and the carrying on by such councils of the business of dealing in fish as a food supply. The clause was agreed to without any criticism. NATIONAL REGISTRATION. Forms^ for the projected national registration are in the hands of the Registrar-General, says the Prime Minister, and it is expected that the papers will be circulated among the public in two or three days. It is anticipated that the replies will be returned in fourteen days from the time of distribution of the forms, and it is estimated that the computation will be complete in twenty-eight days. The Government is speeding the process as much as possible. A CLERGYMAN'S VIEW. -^Preaching at St Paul's Church last night, the A. M. Johnson referred to the action of Parliament in the present oriels- No -clear lead, lie saicl, ha<i been given to the people by Parliament, and the session was now just closing. Much time had been wasted — for instance, on the proposal to make legal gambling in connection with the war funds; but the country was still waiting for a lead as regards national organisation. People were awaiting some authoritative announcement as to. how they could best serve the nation. They wanted to know what they ought to do as good citizens to help the Empire at the present juncture, but Parliament had not given them much assistance. FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. No time, is to be lost in the appointment of a Board of Trade, which is to keep watch on prices and other matters important to the public. The Board is to be useful rather than ornamental — but it may be both, of course. It will be a busy Board, according to the Prime Minister's statement to a Post representative to-day. Apart from the Minister, who is to be a member of this investigating body, the members are to give the whole of their time to this work, which extends over a wide field, ' reaching to the ends of the earth. The Government recognises that if the right kind of man is to be obtained a substantial salary must be offered. The point is that a man with the necessary intelligence, knowledge, and experience to do well the duties specified in th© Cost of Living Act can usually command big money in private buainesß.