POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2225, 24 June 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

POSITION OF THE PARTIES,

MINISTERS AND MEMBERS.

[Si’KOUi, to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, Juno 22,

The coming change in tlio personnel of tlio House of Representatives as the result of tho.general election will fie very much more marked than it has been foi 1 a lengthy period. In addition to the alteration tint will result from the change in the boundaries of the constituencies, there will ho many changes through voluntary retirements of members in consequence'of illness or business calls, "he Opposition party will appear to suite r a great deal in this respect. At present in a House ol 80 • members it consists of only 10, viz., Messrs Aitken, Allison, Jas. Allen, Bollard, \Y. Fraser, Hardy, ilorr.is, Lang, Lethbridge, Lewis, Malcolm, Murider Al,'ii-:soy, Reid. Rhodes, and Okcy. Of these sixteen it is probablo that five, if not six, will not seek ro-eleo-tion, viz.,. Messrs Aitken, Allison, Lethbridge, Lewis, lteid, and Rhodes. There has boon no definite announcement. regarding the retirement of Alessrs Aitken and Rhodes, but tlio “Now Zealand Times” to-day says that neither of tlieso members will seek ro-elcction. With tho usual logs of a few seats and tlio gain of a number of others, particularly jn tlio North Island, tlio Opposition will ho practically a thing of tho past, arid what will' be to all intents and purposes a new party will have taken its place. New Zealand polities may then develop along slightly different lines.

? The jirosont Government party will algo suffer through tho alteration of the constituencies, and through tho retirement of some of tlio present mom bet’s. Amongst their retiring members from tho Government side of tho House will bo Messrs Houston (Who has been in ill-liealth for somo time past), Mills, Rutherford, and AleLaclilan. There are thus at least ten members of the present House of Representatives who are voluntarily retiring from politics. Tho constituents in a number of eases will no doubt put others into involuntary retirement. Air. Owen Pleasants, tho Government candidate for the Oroua seat, from which' Air. Lethbridge is retiring. is a Londoner who canid to New Zealand at nil early age. He lias served oil local bodies, and is a good chess player. At the last election Air. Pleasants was beaten by Air. Lethbridge by nearly a thousand votes. The third candidate, Air. Hornblow, polled 1013 votes to 1191 polled by Air. Pleasants. Mr. Pleasants is a farmer in that district, and his policy will bo a support of those tilings in Parliament* that make for the encouragement and the development of the small farming community. The Hon. Air. MoNab states tliat he will be not surprised if after the general election the Opposition organisation ns a special organisation ceases to exist-. If SO, he adds, it will only make way fori some other organisation because there are always ambitious men - who would take such ail opportunity to endeavor to get into the front rank. Such a state of affairs would open up a big field for rising political talent.

Everything, points to a short sees!on. Jhe 111*1 it) trouble before the 7/atiinnieiil will be an attempt to sat- '■■ laetorily .'-o've the problem caused by the recent break-down in compul-fioi-.v arbitration. Air! Millar has Ins Bill ready, and It will be introduced early in the session. The Workers Compensation Amendment Bill is also ready. It i s practically tile, same as the one brought down last, session. It is unlikely that there will be any morning sittings 0 f the House of Representatives till towards the enu of the session. The Premier thinks the House usually will rise at midnight.