POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13831, 18 August 1908, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

! THE COMING ELECTIONS. PARLIAMENT'S PROGRAMME. I [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. There is a feeling abroad in political circles that the Legislative Council will be temporarily accommodated in the lobby in the old Parliament Buildings next session. This will give more room for the House of Representatives, and will enable all the Legislative Council affairs and attendants to work together, some 12 or 14 rooms being available. The old lobby is suffering just now the indignity of having to do duty as a carpenter's shop. It is not probable, states the Hon. 11. McNab, that a very great deal of interest will be displayed in the far South over the coming elections. To a press representative to-day he remarked that Clutha, Wallace, and Bruce, three Opposition constituencies, were likely to send their sitting members to Parliament again without any contest. No opposing candidates seemed to be offering so far. The Taieri seat, however, would be contested. Further South there were the Government constituencies of Mataura., Awaroa, and Invercargill, which were apparently not going to be contested. For the Wallace seat Mr. Thomson, the sitting member, would again fight his opponent of last year, a Government candidate. Mr. McNab received a telegram from Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.P., to-day, stating that his services were not available for the Wakatipu seat against the veteran " Waki" Eraser. This is in reference to a deputation which waited upon the Minister in the South, asking for Mr. Mackenzie's candidature for that seat. Mr. Mackenzie's reply might be interpreted to mean that he has decided to cast in his lot with the Taieri constituency, from which Mr. D. Reid retires. The Minister thinks that a good fight will take place for the Caversham (Dunedin) and the North Dunedin seat*. The former is held by Mr. Sidey and the latter by Mr, Barclay. In South Canterbury more general interest seemed to be displayed in the coming election, and more candidates were forthcoming. Mr. McNab does not expect that much opposition will be shown to the Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Oamaru). A "proof" Order Paper circulated yesterday in the building places '' questions and answers" as the first business of Wednesday's Parliament. A number of small Bills are then set down for various stages. Parliament, in. the words of M!r. Parata, will require "to hustle," in order to finish its task in time for the general elections. There are still the following 27 measures on the Order Paper to be dealt with: — Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill (consideration of report), Quackery Prevention Bill (consideration of report), Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill (to be committed), Counties Act, 1886, Amendment Bill (to be committed), Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, Amendment Bill, No. 2 (to be committed), Public Works Amendment Bill (to be committed), Local Authorities Indemnity Bill (to be "committed), New Zealand Society of Accountants Bill (consideration of amendments of Legislative Council), Civil Service Amendment Bill (to be committed), Pawnbrokers' Charges Bill (to be committed), Maori Land Laws Amendment Bill (second reading), Friendly Societies'' Consolidation Bill (leonjid reading), Taupo No. 2 Block Bill (second reading), Public Holidays Bill (second reading), Town Boards Amendment Bill (second reading), Government Advances to Workers Bill (second reading), Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill (second reading), Police Offences Amendment Bill (second reading), Second Ballot Bill (second reading), Inferior Courts Procedure Bill (second reading), Acts Interpretation. Amendment Bill (second reading), Mining Amendment Bill (second reading), Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill (consideration of report), Christchurch City Sanitary Empowering Bill (consideration of report)', Oamaru Town Hall and Gasworks Sites and Recreation Reserves Bill (to be committed), Oamaru Harbour Board Loan Bill (to be committed), Christchurch City Betterment Bill (to be committed), and .Alteration of Time Bill (second reading). In addition, if the statements contained in the Governor's speech are to be fulfilled, several important measures have yet to be submitted. The principal ones are water conservation proposals, national annuities, native township leases, local superannuation, post audit, Public Service classification and superannuation amendment, new land settlement proposals, Old Age Pensions- Act Amendment, model by-laws, Manawatu Railway enabling legislation, Slaughtering and Inspection Act Amendment, and new libel law. This is a formidable list, and members will require to get to solid work right away.' The Estimates also require to be completed, and in the near future the Public Works Statement and Estimates ' will be upon the House. Important matters outside of regular Parliamentary work that have yet to he settled are the appointment of a High Commissioner, the preparation of a report on the Parliamentary building scheme, and the Woodward-street matter.