POLITICAL NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13895, 22 October 1918, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES

PREPARATIONS FOR THE SESSION, ! (By Telegraph.—Special to Tone?.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Members are beginning to reach Wellington in readiness for the open- i ing of the session on Thursday. Min- ] isters, who are busy preparing the ; session's work, appear to be hopeful of seeing members' backs again before Christmas, but they are not confident on this point. There are indications already that the by-elections, the passing of the crisis of the war, and the other factors are going to make for increased freedom of criticism during this session. PROSPECT OF AN ELECTION. The general election issue need not arise, for the lifn oi the present Parliament has boon extended until the end of next year, and there will lie another session before then; but the Labour members are going to demand a general election very loudly, and they will receive some verbal support in other narts of the House. Mr Massey has stated that if a majority of the members ask for a general election early next year they can have it, but the older members arc not expecting criticism to take that concrete form. LIQUOR REFERENDUM. The liquor issue is going to loom lar.ro. The supporters of the efficiency rcfrendum have secured ;i fav mra-b'd Ftatem"-;t from Sir Joseph Ward, who, as Minister for Finance, might hare been a formidable obstacle in their i path, and several other Ministers have also indicated that they will support the referendum proposed by the Efficiency Board on the question oi immediate prohibtion with compensation. Indications suggest that the referendum will lie authorised by Parliament this session. A LAND BILL. Anvmg the Bills in hand is n Land Bill. The Minister for Lands i s known to favour improvement in the machin. erv of State ourchase. with the object of securing more kind for settlement without inflation of values, but it is not certain that lie will be able to put forward his proposals in this direction during the present session. The ban against contentious and party legislation may stand in the way.