THINGS POLITICAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17950, 18 November 1918, Page 8

THINGS POLITICAL.

SOME LEGISLATIVE POINTS.

[From Our ConßKsrownr.XT.] V ELLINGTON, November .15. One. of tlio most important measures which will be put through before the leaders of the House .leave for the Peace Confc ■once will be Hie War Legislation Bill. It is practically a certainty that some modification will he made in the section covering enemy aliens in relation to land. Provision will be made to moot exceptional cases in which hardship would be inflicted if the present proposals became law without amendment. The section of the Bill on cost of living lias a restricted scope. It applies to those workers whose conditions are governed by awards' or industrial agreements registered under the Arbitration Act. As an additional safeguard to the general public there will bo a Cost of Living Bill, in which severe'penalties will be provided for nevsons . convicted of profiteering. There will be nn interpretation clause which defines profiteering according to the special circumstances of each case. Then; is much curiosity regarding the position of men who may he released from camp in the near future. It is understood that provision will he made for them during a reasonable time while tboy are. establishing tlieniselvos in new employment. Inquiries show that a number of members of the House will strongly oppose any proposal for the payment of j compensation to the liquor trade in any i licensing poll. Tt is known that a solid I proportion of members will insist on j inclusion of compensation on the ballot [ paper. Sir Joseph Ward's replies to recent, deputations bare indicated tin- | mistnkablv that be w favourable to j compensation in accordance with the Efficiency Board’s recommendations, j Therefore the evidence points to a pro- I tractod controversy on the liquor issue.