PARLIAMENT RESUMES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8187, 31 July 1912, Page 7

PARLIAMENT RESUMES.

POSITION NOT CLEAR.

DEATH OF MIKADO MAY ALTER ARRANGEMENTS.

ME MASSEY AND ‘THE OTHER SIDE." Parliament will resume at 2.30 p.m. to-day. It is, however, at present impossible to say what will bo done, the death of the Mikado having upset arrangements to some extent. Under ordinary. circumstances the work of the session would bo proceeded with at once, but the death of the Japanese Emperor may lead to some alterations in the pro oeedings. An imprest Supply Bill must of necessity bo passed, and it is probable that under the circumstances the discussion, which was expected to last for some hours, will bo a limited one. Asked late last night, after he had, consulted with the Governor, what was the position, the Prime Minister said it was quite certain that something would have to bo done, but ho was not sure what would hapen. He would have to consult some of the members of 'th» "other side" as to the procedure to bo followed. "If it were not for the fact that we must get an Imprest Bill through," he said, “I would know exact, ly how to act." "Will it be necessary to come to an arrangement, in view of .the Mikado’, death, to curtail the discussion?" Mr Massey was asked, the reply being that if the House took that view of the mat* ter, “well and good." 1 In view of Mr Massey's statement it is quite possible that the House will adjourn at the earliest possible moment as a token of inspect to the memory of .the Mikado, Japan standing in a differ* ent position to other foreign nations owing to her alliance with Great Britain. The position is unique, and before anything definite can be done it is essential that Mr Massey should ascertain what the usual custom is in such a case. If he finds'that it is customary to adjourn the House he will have to consult with the Opposition in order to obtain their co-operation. GOVERNMENT POLICY WHAT WILL IT BE? / What the Government policy will tow oan, until it is officially disclosed next week, only be surmised, and that only in part, from recent Ministerial utterance, and the titles of Bills which the Prim. Minister has indicated that he propose, to bring down. There is not likely to to a lack of controversial matter in many of the measures to be put forward, and although the Prime Minister has asserted that the programme he definitely submits will be earned out ere the prorogation take, place, there are doubts in the mind, or many members on this point, unless indeed the bill of fare, which Minister, have led the people inside and outside of the House to look forward to is considerably curtailed, and honourable members are to discover sooner or later that many of the items on the political menu are ''Hoff, sir.”

THE ITEMS. Here is the "card," bo far as it has' been compiled: Imprest Supply Bill (amount unknown). This Bill must of necessity go through to-day, in order that contracts and other engagements may be duly mot. Chvil Service Reform. Land legislation—general and native; Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act Amendment. ,: ' Births and Deaths Eegistration Amendment. ■ Pharmacy Act Amendment. Shipping and Seamen Act Amendments Fire Insurance Act Amendment., These eight Bills, and possibly a few others may be given notice of in the House to-day or tomorrow by way of a / preliminary canter. There are to come in addition measures for — . Electoral Reform. Reform of the Cxvil Sorrier Amendment of Labor law*. Local Government Reform. Amendment of old age penmens. Providing for pensions to military veterans. ‘ _ _ , , Amendment of Post and Telegraph* Act. Amendment of law i elating to prisons. Amendment of Shipping and Seamen* A<

Amendment of Defence Act, # These measures, taken in oahjunction with the Financial Statement and Public Works Statement, with their accompanying Estimates, constitute a proffranune which it would _tako a 6ix« months' session to get through. As Mr Maasey looks forward to closing the session awmt the middle of October, It is obvious that several of the most aavoury dishes will bo roniovcu • from the political table after tho covers have been raised for a period and . membw* have just had time bo snifi their quality•

LAND LEGISLATION. Land legislation will form, the food for tide session. It is promised, as a certainty; but it will not. the Pmn« Minister states, ■ contain the whole or. the Government's policy in tana matteas. There is nothing by which to gauge the policy on this subject beyond the generalisations given forth from the public platform. To. state that ‘we must make the condition* of life earner for the settler" conveys no very epeepa indication of a land policy; and nothing more definite will be known until the Budget is deliveied. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. So far as the proposed measure, of re. form c£ the Legislative Council is con* cemed/ that will probably emanate from the Council, and bo fathered by the Hon. H. i). Bell, leader of the Upper House) but if the Bill comes down this session there is small prospect of it getting bevend the second reading stage, arid there is reason to doubt if the Council as a* present constituted will ever consent to wipe themselves out in favour « aa elective body—which is the project of th* Government.

CIVIL SERVICE. , It is not thought in political circle* that it is seriously contemplated going beyond the second reading stage oi the Civil Service Amendment BUI, but that the intention is to set the measure before the public, elicit public opinion from within and without the representative Chamber, and then pass on to easier tasks. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. It is equally unlikely that any local Government Bill- will bo p-ssed this session. For nearly a couple of decades the knotty subject of local government rerorm has been annually set out in the Ministerial bill of fare, only to be put aside as’ a subject boo vast to be dealt with "this session,'" History will most likely repeat itself —though it is possible a Bill may be circulated inis session. OTHER QUESTIONS. The Defence Act is to be amended, but beyond the vague statement that the principle of the Act is not to be departed from,” there, is no information available as to its character and scope. As to electoral reform, it is taken for granted in well-informed quarters that no steps will be taken to wipe out the Second Ballot Act or substitute proportional or any other system of representation until next session. TODAY. Answers to questions will be circulated to-day but will not he di*cu«Md until to-morrow, when the usual pma

hours for the consideration of them "'ill be afforded members. Thursday is Local Bills day, but any local Bill can only be given notice of prior to reference to the Local Bills Committee, which will not have yet been set up. On'Friday sessional committees will be sot up, but it is improbable any other business will be ready for consideration. REFORM CONFERENCE. TO OPEN ON SATURDAY. The Reform party’s first national conference will bo commenced in the Sydney street schoolroom at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The president (Hon W. F. Massey) will open the proceedings with, an address. This will bo followed by the reading of the organisers' reports. The conference will then go into committee to consider remits sent forward by branches throughout the Dominion. A reporting committee will be set up who will supply reports to the newspapers. At the Sydney street schoolroom on Saturday night the women’s branch of the New 2ealand Political Reform League will entertain the Prime Minister, members of tho Cabinet, members of tho Reform League in Parliament, and tho delegates attending the conference at an “at home." Invitations to tho number of 300 have been issued. The arrangements nr© in the hands of Mesdames J. Darling, (Dr) Newman. Earle, and E. L. AVilson, who are acting in conjunction with the men's branch of v the League. At this gathering an address will bo delivered by Mr A. Harris (Waitemata). representing the North Island, and Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North), representing the South Island. A delegate from tho north and one from tho south and two lady delegates -will also sneak. The conference will resume at 10 a.m. on Monday to consider reports of committees set up to consider remits and schemes of organisation.

On Monday night in. the Town Hall a "Reform rally" will he held. This will bo open to the public. The Prime Minister and his colleagues will bo present, together with members of Parliament and all the delegates to the conference. It is considered that Mr Massey will take the opportunity of delivering a policy speech on this occasion. * In all 200 delegates will bo present «t the conference, the business of which it is expected to conclude by Monday evening.