THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14218, 15 November 1909, Page 6

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION,

WORK ABOUT TO START.

V "SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE DONE." ' (by TELEGRAPH. correspondent.} ■ Wellington, Sunday. i Parliament has now been in session for five and a-half weeks, or one-half of'tho 11 weeks that separated the opening date from December 23, about-which time it has been expected that the prorogation would be reached. " And what has Parliament to show at half-time?" is a question that may well be asked. Members of the House, when confronted with this query, candidly admit that 'the result has been almost nil. The passing of the Loan Bill is practically the only work accomplished. Two Government Bills have been partly put through their committee stages, and the Financial Statement has just been brought down, otherwise the record of the session is One of deadly dulness and that deplorable waste of time that has been such a marked characteristic of the earlier weeks of all recent sessions. "So much to do, so little done," to us© the oft-quoted words of the late Mr. Cecil Rhodes, aptly sums up the present position.

The Budget, with, its outline of the Government's policy, having made its appearance, the actual work of the session may be said to be about .to commence. The question of how much of the formidable programme set out by the < Prime Minister is to be dealt with this session affords interesting scope for speculation. The probable length of the session and the prospects of its closing before Christmas or being continued into the New Year are, of course, an all-important matter for consideration in this connection. In the first place, it is -quite evident to the merest tyro in politics that the whole of the Government's policy measures cannot possibly be dealt with before Christmas Eve. There is sufficient work set out in the Budget and the Governor's Speech to occupy Parliament for a long session of fully five, months. Even with the best progress that can be hoped for, probably not more than "one-third of the business could be put through during the next five weeks and a-half. The general view, of members appears to be that the House will, after a tremendous "slaughter of the innocents," close its doors until next June, a day or two before Christmas. No doubt the wish is father to the thought, as members, after s repairing to their homes for their Christmas dinners, will not be anxious to return in January to go on with the business of the country. This will be particularly the case with the * country members, who will have the harvesting of their crops to attend to. The Government, of course, will be influenced largely by the feeling of members, although, if it decided to continue the session into the New Year, members would have to attend or forfeit the prescribed fine of £2 a day 'fer every day ' over the first fortnight's absence, sickness being the only ground of exemption from this penalty. The statement made by the Prime Minister at, Christchurch , that he expect* to find at the end of the session that a' number lof the proposals submitted have become '~ law, .does not indicate that the Government is at all certain of getting through its whole programme this session. f:.. V THE : FINANCIAL DEBATE. ">' ; The Financial debate will commence on Tuesday evening, and the opening speeches of . the Leader ,of * the Opposition, and> the Minister 'replying; to him, should be of particular interest. . It is uncertain how * long the debate will last. It may occupy * a fortnight, or it may only last two or three days, ■according to the number of members who l feel? equal to* a criticism of the " big Budget." The consideration of the Estimates, which ', will be the subject •of considerable interest, in view of ■ their relation "to-{the| Government retrenchment; policy', will occupy about a" week. - The taxation proposals must also provoke ,a full measure of criticism, v and cannot be expected to go through \in : : less than a: week. The Dreadnought gift; and ' the proposed loan in connection therewith have yet 'to be debated, while the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill .and the State-guaranteed Ad- , vances Bill are still only partly through committee. The Shipping and Seamen Bill and the Land Settlement Finance Bill have not yet been touched. % All these matters, and ordinary; debates incidental to the routine business of the House; together with discussions on the report ;of the Police Commission and other special matters, should be. quite sufficient for the whole, or greater part, of six weeks' sitting. ,

WHAT MAY BE SHELVED. I No i account has yet been taken of such contentious and important; matters as the promised Land Bill, the Native Land Bill, the licensing proposals, the • Gaming Bill, Public Service Superannuation or the Internal Defence ' and - National Annuities Bills. Should -Parliament prorogue at Christmas, it seems inevitable that all or most of these Bills,' after being circulated, arid possibly subjected to a second reading discussion, will be placed on the shelf until i next '. June. *In - this connection it is interesting to recall the fact, that when - the M first - ; .» session *■ of \, the Ward Administration was held in 1906, the Government declared' its determination to keep members in Wellington until the business was finished. This expressed intention, however, was not carried out, Mr. McNab's famous Land Bill and other measures being postponed until the following vear, : when the longest session in the history of.: our Parliament took place. It is not improbable that unless something unforeseen happens the session of 1910 will, so far as length is concerned, run that of 1907 closely for " record " honours.

■•■■;■>, THE LAND BILLS. "The Native Land Bill, which has been referred, to the Native Affairs j Committee, "will provide ] a great deal of work for the committee and the House if it is taken in hand in earnest. The committee will meet this week, but even if it sits every day a fortnight, will , probably elapse before the measure can be reported, for it is one of the most-bulky and intricate Bills that has come before 'Parliament v for some years. The Land'.Bill will also be. referred to the Lands Committee, which, will doubtless find in it sufficient work for several sittings. ■ ' A caucus of the Government party : will be held on Tuesday morning, when matters in connection with'the work of the session will be discussed.