POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12767, 14 September 1903, Page 5

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

LICENSING LEGISLATION. (Froii Oon Own Cokkkbpondent.) WELLINGTON, September 13. The prospect of licensing legislation this session is likely to depend largely on tho proposed amendment; of tho Si, Hiding Orders. It is recognised that, no Licensing Bill that is at all unsatisfactory can get through this session with the Standing Orders as tlicy now are. It is also stated that it will be utterly, impossible to get the proposed amendments in tho Standing Orders through the House. " Kven if the Government is prepared to sit till the Christmas after next," said 'one moinber to me, " they will not got those Standing Orders passed." It is not only the Opposition and Independents that will fight tliein; sonio of Mr Seddon's own men art) suro to be very determined in their opposition. Moreover, the prohibitionists all over tho colony mo telegraphing to members to resist tho suggested chango. The longer, therefore, tho Licensing Bill is in being introduced tho less chance thdre is of passing it.

CITY SINGLE ELECTORATES. The reason the Government is pushing on with this measure is as far from solution as ever. Even its own supporters are mystified. There is a growing impression, however, that the objcct of it is to spiit up the Labour party, which in the cities is always demanding a great deal, though giving the Government a somewhat meagro support in the representatives sent to Parliament. A TORRENT OF TALK. Members are beginning to wonder when they aro likely to get homo. Elovon weeks of (he session have passed and the House has not yet settled down to work, So far it has been a session of talk—little else. Some of it is no doubt due to tho spirit of independence which marks the present House in contrast with the last. Members, oven on tho Government side, do not always agree with the proposals of the Government, and they have got into tho healthy habit of saying so. But there have been volumes of talk of (juite another kind, of which the House is getting heartily siuk. It is now almost part of the daily routine—tlio rule rather than the exception—that something has to be talked out. One day it is a petition of trifling conscquenca which the Government for some reason dops not wish to take tho opinion of the House upon. Next day it is some matter of procedure of allabsorbing interest to members but of no moment whatever to the people who sent them there. Then the Order Paper seems to bo a series of surprisos for members. They expect the Shipping and Seamen Bill, and when {lie House meets they fimi that the City Singlo Electorates Bill iias precedence, with the result that the opponents of city single .Electorates who have not had time to think out their position resort to a- game of bluff, iii tho hopo of getting the bill withdrawn. Next day tlicro are half a dozen little hills on tho top or the Order Paper, with a contentious measure placed No. 7, and members at onco scent an allnight sitting if No. 7 is reached, and the talk starts on No. 1 and is kept going merrily till midnight, when no fresh business can be taken. Thus tho business drag 3 on day after day. Tho oldest members of the Houso say tiiey never saw the business so badly arranged, and many of them are wondering whether the Government wants to do anything at all this session. Banking, laud, and licensing legislation are much looked for and never come, and in the interval of waiting there has probably been more talk on trifles than ever before in the New Zealand Parliament, which has a reputation for loquacity.