POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2625, 6 October 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE COMING SESSION. AN INTERESTING TIME EXPECTED. (Special to “Times.”) AVELLINGTON, October 5. The session which opens on Thursday is being looked forward to with the keenest interest by all sections of the community in. AVelfington, and it is safe to anticipate that it will be the most interesting for a long time past. Its importance will depend largely upon whether the Government insists upon carrying through its programme, or shelves some of its big policy measures until next session, a course likely to be adopted in view of the evident anxiety of the Premier to close the proceedings before Christmas.

THE DEFENCE QUESTION. In any ease, discussion is certain to be fast and furious on many points of the Ministerial policy. Naval and military defence will be two distinct questions, and. will doubtless evoke long debates. The former is expected to be brought within a few days of the opening of the session, and, as the Premier has fairly outlined what he has done and proposes to do in the matter, the ground is cleared for the controversy in regard to territorial defence. Sir Joseph Ward declines to make any disclosure for the present, on the ground that it is a subject for legislative enactment, but, for the matter of that, so is the naval question. Sir Joseph Ward went away protesting against anything in the nature of compulsory service, and his silence in regard to defence force proposals have led to the assumption here that he may have' been induced at Home to alter his conviction.

THE NATIVE LANDS QUESTION. The Native Lands Bill, which it is proposed to introduce, is sure to evoke a long and interesting general discussion, although hitherto the South Island members have taken but small interest in anything relating to the affairs of the Maoris. It would seem, however, that Air. Carroll has at length decided to dissipate his “Taihoa” policy by attempting to grapple with the important subject of the settling of Native .lands. How he will succeed remains to be seen. THE FREEHOLD TENURE.

A good deal of interest is manifested generally as to the attitude of the Government on the freehold tenure question. It is pretty certain that there is a majority in the new House in favor of the freehold, and recent speeches by the Hon. T. Alackenzie and other Mblisters indicate, to say the least, a wavering on the main plank of the land policy. This indication is strengthened by the fact that no fewer than six Ministers fought for the return of tee Rangitikei candidate, whose chief announcement was that he was a freeholder in principle.

THE BUDGET. The Budget is promised before the month expires, though there is no apparent reason why it should not be delivered next week, seeing the last -naiicial year is six months old. THE PREMIER’S ATTITUDE. Since the Premier’s return he has been having cordial receptions in various quarters. He is optimistic, as usual, but there is a note in his oral.deliverances which is new. There is jusfe a suspicion of self-laudation, by no means characteristic of the genial statesman. It reminds one of Othello’s “I have done the State some service, and they know it”—in the matter of the Dreadnought offer and the Naval Conference —and of the boast of Coriolanus—“ Alone I did it.” Another feature is his display of petulance, even temper, at the bcoh-hooing he received from a few irresponsible individuals at Auckland and Wellington! He launch- > ed into invective at this treatment last night when speaking as the guest of the Ladies’ Branch of the Liberal and Labor Federation, and implied that it was the result of organised opposition, which is unquestionably erroneous. PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION. As already stated, the Premier is anxious to close the session . before Christmas, and has declared that all the business may easily be got through, if members are reasonable, and so it might if the Government itself adopts a reasonable method of procedure, by way of giving a lead, but judging from past experience, one is inclined to doubt its reasonableness. That the session, will close before Christmas is pretty certain, as members on both sides of the House will be anxious to get away to their private business, but it is unlikely that all the necessary measures will see the Statute Book. The old practice of putting off important measures for a hurried session, and a rush through or a final slaughter will most probably characterise the coming session, and for this the Government, as in the past, will be responsible. A T ery few members have as yet arrived in" Wellington. Alost of them, including Air. Alassey, will be here by to-morrow. THE PARLIAAIEXTARY BUILDINGS. A good deal of additional expenditure has taken place on the buildings to make them more comfortable than formerly. A new Council Chamber has been" erected, and part of the . old buildings have been fitted and furnished as committee rooms. It is clear that there will be no new Parliamentary Buildings erected or commenced for years to come.