THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Evening Star, Issue 11815, 19 February 1903, Page 8

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

[Sncux. to thx Brin-] WELLINGTON, February 19. During a short holiday in Dunedin a {representative of the 1 Evening Post * could not let pass the opportunity of sounding Dunedin's City members on the political situation, and the results of his energetic labors are communicated to the readers of that journal in to-night’s issue. The trio agreed that the situation was a very interesting one for everybody except the Premier ; and a Northern member (one has little difficulty in picking out Mr G. Fowlds, M.H.R. for Grey Lynn, as the person referred to), whom he also came in contact with during his Southern travels, declared that politically Mr Seddon is in the tightest place he has ever been in since he bad assumed power. “ Turn which way he may,” said the Northerner, “the Premier appears to be cornered, and he will have a lively time with *his party during the coming session. He must reconstruct his Cabinet, and he must give the North Island a fairer share of representation in the Cabinet than he has hitherto given us. And yet there are few capable men among his followers in the Northern contingent, whilst he has quite a number of Southerners who look upon themselves as Ministerselect. Then there is the licensing question to be faced, or not to be faced, with his friends the brewers and their grievance of broken promises on the one hand, and strong-voting Prohibitionists on the other hand. Labor matters, land question demands from the country party, and financial problems are also in the path of the Premier. Oh, it’s going to be a lively and interesting session for all, and for Mr Seddon particularly. Both the Opposition party and the Press have deluded themselves with the idea that Mr Bedford will be one of themselves. What a shock must it be to their feelings when they learn, per the medium of the ‘ Post' interviewer, that Dunedin’s senior member will not be included in their mess. He is not anxious to play David to Mr Seddon’s Goliath, and though he will sib oil the cross benches of the House and take up an absolutely independent attitude, he has more in sympathy with the Government, policy than with that of the Opposision. At the same time, though he will not aim to slay the Premier with his sling, he is likely to tilt a lance frequently at the burly Leader of the House. “ I could not serve with the Opposition party,” said Mr Bedford, “ for I am democratic, and I must sympathise with the social and Labor legislation which has been passed by the Government. I shall also take up a firm attitude against the Opposition on the land question, for I am absolutely opposed to the proposal for granting the freehold to individual.” Mr Bedford will join the party of temperance reformers in the new house, and he will be found a powerful opponent to the brewing interests. Mr Bedford would not say anything about the coming session As a stranger in a strange place, be said, be mnst await events, and he would have to deal with things as they happened, and along broad lines, which he had laid down when he placed his views before the electors. As a member of the first Labor party, Mr Millar had something interesting to say about the Labor members in the new House. Mr Millar thinks that the Labor party may be said to have been strengthened as a result of the late General Election. He considered the Labor party has sixteen members, some of whom were straight-out Labor representatives, and others have strong sympathies with the party. This is Mr Millar’s list of the party: Millar, Arnold, Bedford, Sidey, E. G. Allen, Hanan, M‘Nab, J. C. Thomson, Tanner, Davey, Ell, T. E. Taylor, Laurenson, A. L D. Fraser, Jennings, and Fowlds. There was a doubt about Mr Jennings’s position, as he is now representing a farming constituency. Mr M‘Nab represented a district in which there wore many miners, and all Labor legislation would consequently interest Mr M‘Nab. Mr Millar anticipates a lively session when the House next meets. It will be a hard session, in’ which much trouble will be brewed. Not only licensing, but also labor matters will be to the fore. In the opinion of the middle member for Dunedin, there will be a big fight if reconstruction of the Ministry has not taken place before Parliament me'ets. The Premier must improve his Cabinet by removing three of its present members. Mr Millar was in sympathy with the North Island demand for fairer representation in the Mini*try. Among the legislation to be dealt with during the coming session should be a revision of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the passing of a Shipping Act. The Shipping Bill was put through committee last session, and there would be trouble if it did not go upon the Statute Book next session. Mr Arnold told the ‘ Post ’ representative that great satisfaction was expressed in the trades union circles in Dunedin at the Premier’s expression of opinion concerning legislation with a view of granting preference of employment to unionists. The decision to appoint State officers to see ; hit the Arbitration Court awards were vtvicflv carried out was also satisfactory. ■i hj officers would need to be specially ■ ■ i ’ ! ifieri. As a member of the Labor 1 ‘ r ' y. Mr Arnold said he would insist that legislation of a Socialistic nature "M he passed during the coming ses■i ■ ; than was passed last year. What he v '.'l particularly like to see passed during lb; coming session was legislation bearing >i;- (be State fire insurance and referendum. did not think the coming session would he one i n which much talking would be done, though not a few old members thought it would be a session of much talk. The liquor question must be dealt with, and there was no doubt that immediately legislation was introduced scores of amendments of the Act would be given notice of. This might result in a long and stormy fight, and extremists on both sides would strive to get the best of the fight. When the subject was introduced it should be dealt with in such manner as would settle the licensing question for some time. There were sufficient fair-minded men in the Parliament to be able to bring this needed result about, in spite of the opposition of extremists. The problem of the licensing question in the King Country would also have to be grappled with seriously. Mr Arnold failed to see how the House could) deal with this question satisfactorily with the information that members will have when they meet. He regretted that the Government did not set up a Royal Commission to deal with the subject during last session, and thinks that even now a Commission will have to be set' up before the matter can be finally dealt with. “We can take it for granted,” said the junior member for Dunedin, “that there will be no reconstruction of the Cabinet until after tha House meets and the Premier has consulted his party.” Mr Arnold thinks that one of the! greatest difficulties in the way of reconstruction is North Island representation. In any reconstruction that may take place the North Island members will demand, and will have a right to, more members in the Cabinet. At the same time it will be most difficult to get suitable men from the North to fill the portfolios. Mere especially will it be difficult to get North Islanders to fill the portfolios of Lands and Education. Nothing would, in hia opinion, be decided with regard to filling the Speakership until the eve of the session, and he did not think the election would be made a party question by the Government. The House must elect the strongest man available for the position. “ How about promoting the Chairman of Committees to the Speakership? Do you think the promotion should follow?” was asked. “Not necessarily,” replied Mr Arnold. He said that if the precedent of the House of Commons were taken it would be found that it was not necessary at Home la elevate the Chairman of Committees to (!,e Speakeislwp. He did not think the' House of Commons had made a Speaker hi a chairman during the last, fifty years. Mr Arnold intends making the voyage (o the Cook Islands, as he thinks it is a wise course for members to see the conditions of the islands and) the people. He had felt at a disadvantage through his ignorance of the islands when the question of annexation was before Parliament. T«a matter of the annexation of Fiji must be dealt) with by Parliament presently. He was. satisfied that Loth natives and Juixa-

peons in Fiji were anxiously awaiting annexation, though they did not. appear to be particular whether they were to be attached to New Zealand or the Commonwealth of Australia. , Mr Arnold concluded by stating that he considered that the legislation of the last Parliament in connection with the onnexation of the Cook Islands was most important, and the result would be that the Premier would go down in history as an empire-builder rather than as a Jingoist.