POLITICAL NOTES.

Mataura Ensign, 30 September 1913, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

A QUIET WEEK-END. THE PALMERSTON MEETING. BY TELEGRAPH. FROM OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT A WELLINGTON, Soot. 30. n Matters politi<val have been very quiet over the week-end. The only matter of consequence has been the mooting of the Government Party a* Palmerston Noith, and members who were present report that it was a great success.

THE EDENDALE LEASEHOLDS. ■ The 'Now Zealand Times' this morning has a leading article on the meeting of settlers at Edendale who applied for the freehold of education leaseholds. The 'Timer*' attributes to Hon. W. F Massey (Prime Minister) and Mr Anderson (Mataura) designs upon the endowment of lands, although over and over again they have stated publicly that the party intends to maintain the existing endowments. If any party sells education and other endowments it certainly will not bo the Reform Party.

WORK AHEAD. Ministers and members are still hopeful that the session will end about the first weak in December, but a few ar« sanguine enough to .suggest that th# programme can bo dealt with before that time.

The House has now before it tli« Land Bill, which, is sure to meet with somo opposition, and two Labor Bilk, which aro also sui /■ to moot with a great deal of determined opposition. In addition to these there will be the Nativ* Land Bill, tho Tariff Bill, the Electoral Bill, probably a Licensing Bill, andjpossibly the Legislative Council Bill. Even though much good work has already been, done and tho Estimates were got out of the way in good time, there is still a heavy programme for two month* and the House will have no time for trifling if the Bills aao to go through it freely. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. It is stated that the Legislative Council Bill has scarcely tho remotest, , chance of getting through the in its present shape. Two things, it is \ said, may happen to it. Some amend- 1 ment may l>o carried against the Minister in charge of it which will make th« Bill iniiwtisihlo from the Government'* point of view and then he will be compelled to retire it. On the other hand, the Bill may bo ko reduced by amendment that there will be very little left in it but the short title when the cornmi I tee of the Council has done with. it. Should Mich a reduced Bill as this finally get through it, will be introduced to the House and the Representative Chamber will be given an opjxirtunity of expressing its collective opinion as to the l>est means of reforming the Second Chamk'r. If tho Bill is nhorn of all its effective daws, .should it roach the House the policy clauses will almost certainly he reinserted. Tho Council may rely iir.on the Hou.se not agreeing to th» amendments, and tho Bill will be sent back for another year. Next year there will be somo 15 vacancies in the Council to be filled and when these have beoa filled ihe Bill will probably pass.