POLITICAL NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 140, 11 June 1909, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

[from otjk correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, Thursday. Things are wonderfully quiet considering Parliament formally opened to-day. Is it the calm that so often precedes the storm? I fancy so. Some say indeed that the storm will be so severe that it may even yet upset Sir Joseph's trip Home, but this is mere mid-winter madness. The session may not end quite 'so soon as was expected, but it will have toend before the Prime Minister goes. As to that you may be certain. ..A rumour has been circulated that the Imprest Supply, Bill would be stonewalled. . But no stonewalling would be done by the Opposition, which will make its protest formally, and possibly at some length, but .will not stonewall. As to that I believe there is a definite understanding in the party. But that there will be some hot and strong criticism is certain. Much is to be made of the alleged necessity for amending the land laws, arid full eofi-fideiice of the Government as to the retrenchment scheme now being carried out in connection with the public service. The Addington Workshops Inquiry and the report thereon will be the subject of some "hot talk." All these and many other matters will probably come "".p prominently in the debates on the Imprest Supply Bill, if such a J>iU be introduced. I say if, for there is a rumour abroad that the necessary financial authority for the recess can be procured by some alteration of the Public Eevenues Act. It is true that this would cut down the talk a little, but it could not lessen the Government's opponents' liberty as to criticism, for it would be practically impossible to confine the debate en what, after all, would be a money bill, in another form, to the actual provisions of the measure. It has been said that the Government intends to force the whole business through by Saturday night, but if this be attempted the fat will be in the fire and no mistake. I cannot believe that the . Government would

make so foolish a mistake. It would exasperate the Opposition and have a bad effect in the country, and as things are just now it is more than ever advisable that the Government should walk warily. Mr George Laurenson, certainly one of the ablest members of the Government party, is to be senior whip, in succession to Mr Alfred Kidd, who got his walking ticket last year from the Auckland electors. Who is Mr Laurenson's assistant is not yet settled. The position was, it is said, offered to Mr Jennings and refused. It is quite possible that a second whip may not be appointed until the House reassembles in October. The re-election of Mr Guinness as Speaker was practically assured. There can be little doubt that his much commented upon speech at Greymouth Avas merely an after-din-ner pleasantry, a few phrases of which were somewhat ill-naturedly ; magnified and distorted by a press correspondent whose personal animus | against the Member for the Grey is notorious on the Coast. Mr Guinness is the oldest Member of the I House save the veteran Sir William Steward, and he is undoubtedly the ! best man available for the position. iMr Guinness earned his position of Speaker by long and arj duous work ,and in my opinion he : will retain it so long as he remains in Parliament.