THE COMING-SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15639, 19 June 1914, Page 8

THE COMING-SESSION.

WORK FOR MEMBERS.

IMPORTANT MEASURES. rSEVERAL BILLS READY. / [by telegraph,—special reporter.] Te Kuiti, Thursday. This year's session of Parliament, which will be opened on Thursday next, is regarded by tho Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W, F. Massey) as being likely to prove much more busy and rather longer than tho average. The last session is one in which members usually devote themselves principally to' ■ talking to their constituents, and thus endeavouring to make their re-election sure. This year, howover, members will have a, groat deal of important work put before - them, as the Government is submitting a programmo that is quite sufficient to occupy Parliament for the full period of an ordinary session.

■ Mr. Massey stated to a Herald interviowor to-day, that the arrangements for the work of the session are very well forward, quite a number of the Government Bills boing ready for introduction. Parliament will be formally opened by the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool) on Thursday, and on Friday the first Imprest Supply Bill of the session will be passed. This is one of the occasions on which members ore privileged to talk upon almost every public subject. The debate on the address-in-reply, it is expected, will bo opened on the following Tuesday. It is probable that the mover of the address will bo Mr. E. P. Leo, member for Oamaru.

One of the most important Bills to be introduced will -be the Legislative CounHI Reform Bill, providing for an elective Upper" Chamber, which has already been intioduoed on two occasions but without being passed. In order to secure the passage of the Bill, the appointment of several new councillors is necessary. Mr. Massey states that the list of appointments has not yet been completed, but tho appointments will probably bo made about the time of the opening of Parliament.

The Licensing Bill, which provides for the majority required to carry national prohibition being reduced from 60 to 66 per cent., and which was circulated last year, will be introduced early in the session. This Bill, Mr. Massey pointed out, is not a partv Bill and members on both sides of the Houso will, of course, vote on it as they please or in accordance with their pledges. Anothor important measure which Mr. Massey states has been drafted with a view to its early introduction, is that dealing with the roading system. Other measures will include a Bill providing for an important amendment 'of tho Education Act, another providing for tho removal of some defects in the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, a Land Bill and possibly also a Native Land Bill as well as an Electoral Bill. Mr. Massey states that he is not able at present to indicate tlw nature of the- last-named measure, which will be awaited with unusual interest.

Tho question of a referendum on tho Biblo-in-Stete schools question was mentioned to Mr. Massey, but he had no information to givo on the point. " I will not say a word about it' until tho House meets, was his decided reply to tho interviewer's question.

BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED.

SYSTEM OF PUBLIC GRANTS.

[BT TBIiECRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CmusTCHTOcn, Thursday,*

In tho course of an interview to-day, the Hon. H. D. Bell (Minister for Internal Affaire) Raid that he hoped that one of the reforms of the coming session would be the reform of the present system of making grants to local bodies. In their first year of office, the Reform Party had placed the Civil Service beyond tho reach of political influence, and it -was hoped, now, to do the same with regard to grants to local bodies. The making of grants would be removed entirely from the field of Ministerial patronage. Independent and impartial authority would bo set up to consider and deal with all applications for grants. Tho Legislative Council Reform Bill would go through this session, and would para into law. The Bill- would bo practically the same as that introduced last session and rejected. The constitution of the new Council would be practically the samo as that proposed for the Irish Senate by the Imperial Government. Tho Imperial proposal had becomo law since the introduction of the New Zealand Government's Bill, on which it was virtually based. The Irish Senate proposals wore practically those of the Legislative Council Reform Bill of 1912, in that election would be on the basis of proportional representation of four' big electorates. In this matter there was great similarity between Ireland and New Zealand. In Ireland there wero four big provinces— Monster, Leinster, and Connaught. New Zealand consisted of two islands, each of which was naturally divided into two big districts. Tho system proposed was, therefore, peculiarly adaptable to both.