POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2658, 13 November 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

PROSPECTS OF THE SESSION.

(Special to “Times.”) WELLINGTON, Nov. 12. The real business of the session will begin on Tuesday next, when the Budget debate opens. It is generally considered that the discussion will last a fortnight. I should say seven sitting days at least. Almost every paragraph in the Budget is highly controversial, and so many unusual elements have been introduced that members will find it difficult to curtail the debate. When tile main debate is over it may be taken for granted that another fortnight under forced long sittings will be occupied in getting through v the Estimates. That will bring the session, if they go straight on with these matters, to the close of the first week in December. Then there are the Public Works Statement to come on, with the usual fight for votes, and the defence scheme, and discussion on Mr. Bishop's police report. These are matters, among others, that must be dealt with. It is easy to see then that if the session is to close before Christmas, the main policy Bills of the Government, apart from" defence, must be jettisoned, or rushed through at a pace that will give no chance for mature deliberation. What hope is there of the Land Bills being adequately discussed under the circumstances, or of the new departure in the licensing laws? So far. the session has been frittered away, and except for the temporary provision of supplies, the passage of the Loan Bill, and several loeal measures nothing has been done. There will, of course, be a deadly rush later on, with some all-night sittings, and legislation by exhaustion will as usual be adopted, hut it will not make up for the time wantonly wasted during the first five weeks of the session. The Native Land Consolidation and Amending Bill has been introduced and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. It may emerge therefrom for the convenience of the Government at an inconvenient late period, and the taihoa police may have sway once more. The Land Bill is not heard of, and it may be found that there is really no time for such a controversial Bill this session. The Government would in such a case express regret, and phssibly would throw the onus on to the Opposition in some way. But would Ministers be sorry? Sham and makeshift are necessary essentials to an Administration which" is more concerned to retain office than to conserve the interests of the country, and past events speak loud as to the view taken by the Governmentof political party propriety. A NATIVE PETITION. The Native Affairs Committee reported to-day on the petition of Mirimiri Hapeta and 59 others, of Poverty Bay, praying for an inquiry into the method of dealing with native lands, comprising 4367 acres, situate in the Tawapata South ' No. 1 block. The _Committee urges that the petition should be referred to the Government for consideration