POLITICAL GOSSIP

Evening Star, Issue 14214, 13 November 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL GOSSIP

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.! V\ ELLINGTON, November 15. MASSEY v. WARD. Replying to (he telegraphed remarks from Christchurch by Sir Joseph Ward concerning ( he stricture passed hv the leader of (he Opposition on certain fea lures of the Budget, Mr Massov remarked to your correspondent that the Prime Minister had evaded the point by asking him (Mr Massey) to suggest some other way ol raising the money. “That,” said Mr Massey. 11 iras not a rjuestion for him to answer." ’Dip, point in which he (Mr Massey) was principally i oner mod winfins; fhnt if wo had had capable and compelo.nt men at the head of affairs this difliculty would never have arisen, and it. would not have been necessary to increase taxation in the manner proposed in OnBudget. HOW LONG ? There seems to he an idea that (he 1: inaneial Debate may possibly collapse a' an early stage, oven on Tuesday night, owing to the Budget being so big that members are actually afraid to tackle it. If, on the other hand, it gets n, fair start, it may last a torlnighl. and 1 lint seems a far more likely contingency. How the Government are, in that event, going to get through even a fair proportion of (heir legislative programme before Christmas it a problem, a.s so many o) the proposals to which they stand committed are very controversial. “ J lie chances of Parliament proroguing before the end of tin- year am very small,' say some members: whil--others emphatically declare (hat they will not come back after Christinas. Thn Government members ate bolding a. eauc-nt on J iiesday to consider both the land and the licensing <j nest ion. MAGISTRATES' COURTS. I be Magistrates' Court Amendment Bill, introduced by the Attorney-General, provides that i! the deieiidant. in an action in a Magistrates Conn desires to defend the action, he nui-t tile in the court a notice ol his intention within three davs after t lie service ot the summons upon him. 11 in- tails to do so lie will not bo allowed to defend without. t!m spin ia! leave of tin Court, ami the action will l-o disposed of a> undrlended. except in the special cases referred to in danse 5 (which substantially re-enacts the existing law). It is n ); ; necessary, in any such not ice. to stale the nature ot the intended defence. To give time lor the tiling of the notice, clause (i provide?, for the service of the summons in all cases seven days before the day of hoa: ing. As the rorjuiromont of a ’notice of intention to defend already exists in tiecase of actions for penalties under the In dustrinl Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act. 1903. the provisions o' tluil. Ait- which <lu;il v. i:ii ilns ninllcv hit t licrofote repealed as being siipeiv.eded lithe general provisions of this Bill. Tim Bill also provides a. short form of sta:'ment ot claim in actions for goods sold and d- hverod. The pre.-ent practice require? a lull statement-of ail dates and parti.mlaieven though account* have already been duly rendered by the plaint)!! to (ho dc fondant. In the ease of current accounts tills imolves a coiisioVrahle .•inKmnLof innecessary trouble. The pro-clime imposed by (he Bill ,N i„ accordance »!•’. English law.

THK

The Hons Oorgo .Tones, B. H. r»eev> and (1. ,). Smith, whose loini of onirc.wiM expire on the 17,t 1, , mw „ will be reap. |K)intrd for a further term of seven ywp> 11. is nnt infon<]iv| • i«t mako .n;v ii"\. lor .skiin' limo to roine.