THE SESSION'S WORK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 49, 19 June 1914, Page 2

THE SESSION'S WORK.

A FORECASf.' i[P»B PbESU ABBOOIATION.] Christchurch, June IS. In the 'course of an today, the Hon. H. I). Hell said the principal work of the coming* session, he hoped, would be the refVrui tf j the present system )f nmKing grants to local bodies. : 'u -Aioyv fiVst yp.s.i" of office, the "Reformers" Jnd ,I>biced the civil service beyond the 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 bo i conned entirely' from the field of MmisrfitfaJ patronage. An independent and impartial authority would be set up to consider and deal with atyrftPipjntjftM'i for grants. Regarding the reform of the lippc*' House, the Hon. Mr Bell Government was absolutely decided that 'Hie Legislative Council Refoi-u Bill would go through this session, and would pass into Jaw.,- .The Bill would be practically the same as that introduced last session The constitution of the new Council ' would he practically the same as that proposed for the Irish Senate by the Imperial Government. The Impel'':'! proposal had become law since the -introduction of the New Zealand Government's Bill, on which it was'virtually based. The Irish Senate proposal!? : were practically those the Legislative Council Reform Bill of 191,2;: in' that thte> election Would : be on the .bfisis of proportional tatibli-jof four big/.electorates. In this 'nuitter there was a great similarity, between. Ireland and New Zealand. ' ■'' In Ireland there were,.four bigprovinces—Ulster, i Munster, Leinster and : Connaught.r:.li New. Zealand consisted |of two islands, each "of which was-naturally divided into' two big districts. The system proposed Mas, therefore, peculiarly adaptable to both. '•:■■-»«'