THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1908 PROJECTED LEGISLATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14211, 12 May 1908, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1908 PROJECTED LEGISLATION.

In a specch at Auckland in February last Sir Joseph Ward referred to some of tiio intentions of the Government as regards legislation to be introduced during the coming parliamentary session, and at ileeftan on Saturday night he again dealt with tho subject. In. proportion as the commencement of the session becomes less remote such preliminary announcements may be no donbt taken the more seriously. Tho Primo Minister of New Zealand might well be tho envied of Prime Ministers far and wide in his ability to make promises of great significance. He has promised that a scheme for the general superannuation of all workers shall be placed before Parliament this coming session "which would be a corollary to the superannuation schemo already in force, and would enable anyone reaching tho ago of sixty-five to retire and end his days in peace and happiness." The wosnsct is uncommonly

fine, to say the least of it. Into much detail on this subject Sir Joseph Ward is evidently not yet disposed to go. His recent references to the intentions of the Government with respect to the extension of the superannuation system ami the establishment of a scheme of national annuities haye committed him to the formulation of a scheino which is certain to present difficulties of great magnitude. The greater the difficulties, however, the greater will assuredly ))o the credit to which Sir Joseph will he entitled if he can devise a satisfactory scheme for the fulfilment of the laudable desire to make provision for a general scheme of superannuation. Until the promised proposals are brought down, however, speculation as to their possibilities from a practical standpoint is somewhat futile. Wo content ourselves meanwhile with congratulating Sir Joseph on the felicity of his: phraseology and his little picture of the Dominion as the land of people who live happy ever after. It is in a measure satisfactory to have lu's assuranco that the Government intends next session to bring clown measures such as will in its opinion desirably amond the Arbitration Court procedure, although the statement is too vague to explain itself clearly. The Arbitration Act should be reinforced where its weakness has been made manifest, but the Government can taks no great measure of credit to itself for the manner in which it has utilised in the settlement of recent industrial warfare what Sir Joseph Ward styles a good piece of machinery. Something more specific as to what the Cabinet has in view on this subject will be awaited with interest. As to the statement that the Government " would do its best to preserve that portion of our law which had been of the greatest beneHt to the worker," again there is want of precision as to what is intended, but in common charity it should doubtless be interpreted as the expression simply of an intention to safeguard our industrial legislation generally. If Sir Joseph Ward's assurance that the Government would never allow anything to be done either by an employer or an employee that would cause the disruption of industrial peace indicates a less dilatory method in future of setting the machinery of the Arbitration Act in motion when the workers have flouted its provisions, it may be welcomed. A somewhat important announcement made by the Prime Minister at Reeftcn was to the effect that the Cabinet had resolved that minority elections should be done away with and would introduce a Bill with that end in view. The public is assured that it is to be rendered impossible for a member to be returned to the House by a vote representing a minority of the electors. The form which the Government Bill is to take has presumably yet to be decided. Satisfactory decision on the point is not Jikely to be an easy matter, and may yet postpone such suggested electoral reform indefinitely. The Absolute Majority Bill of which Mr M'Nab has been such a valiant supporter in the past has not stood) the test of a critical examination without revealing serious defects. To the second ballot system objections of somewhat weighty nature can be advanced. Hitherto Parliament has declined to take very seriously suggested legislation with a view to the establishment of the absolute majority system; and rightly so, since it has been of a somewhat crude description. The position is altered now that the Government is taking the matter up, but the difficulties still exist. Sir Joseph Ward's statement suggests the possibility that an effort may be made to bring about a change of system prior to the next general election. Much depends upon the proposals that will be brought down, but obviously there is going to be little enough time for the Government to achieve what it may have in view with the election so close at hand and a short parliamentary session in prospect.' In fact, everything points to the likelihood that the approaching session will be somewhat barren of legislative fruit, and it. is much better that it should he so than that Parliament should have to deal with too large a programme of work under unfavourable conditions. It- will not be very surprising if, under the circumstances, the Government's •legislative programme even as provisionally outlined should need considerable- curtailment.