POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2665, 22 November 1909, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

CRITICISING GOVERNMENT METHODS-

(Special to “'limes.’ ) WELLINGTON, Nov. 21. The end of the Parliamentary nook was interesting, bringing. did, a number of subjects m Committee of Supply which threw light upon many phases of law and admmistrat on Ike privileges of -members m aum„ S ances and drawing attention to Gov ernmental defects are not as •formerly; but there is still for the discussion of anything u the Dominion sun_ when the first A*™ on the Estimates is called Com mifctee of Supply, and the inl - t y was not lost. During yesterday s w ting the inability of persons to sue tlie Government under the Ciown ■ Act, and the extra payment made to the Chief Justice m connection w th the-Native Lands and Statutes Keys 1 Commissions, formed the staple or * mission, though there were many ot ei topics broached, and each one led into various by-paths. THE CROWN SUITS ACT. The discussion of the operation of the Crown Suits Act occupied the bulk of the sitting, and the arguments pro and con therec-n were unusually interesting. It appears that the Jaw was framed with the idea of giving the Goyenirnent as much immunity as possible from legal actions by those who think they may have claiirp upon the State for accidents or other matters in winch the ordinary employer finds himself Haole. Recently a tram driver named Barton was permanently injured in a collision with a State coal motor, and .when he entered an action against the Government in the Supreme Court for compensation, he found liis claim stopped by the Crown Law -Suits Act, which bars such actions unless the State authorities give permission to proceed. This matter formed the basis of the discussion. Mr. Massey and others held that the law should be amended to give private (persons and business firms the .same right against the Government as they had against citizens, but the Premier failed to see with the eyes of the critics of the law, the chief ground of his objection being that juries -generally 7 favored individuals as against the State. The Hon. R. McKenzie, with his usual bluntness, indicated that an alteration in the law, in the direction indicated, would open the door to blackmailers, and he was not going to favor any such thingTlie Government’s view was upheld by a majority of four, the smallest majority in the legislative record of the Administration. In conversation with members on tne subject, I learn that there is _a 'cry strong feeling that a democratic Government should not place itself above and beyond the laws of the land 111 matters of this kind. It is argued that the State has entered so largely into competition with private enterprise that it should be amenable to the. same laws as those against whom it is coin peting. MISCELLANEOUS CRITICISMS. The extra payments to the Chief Justice were severely criticised, and as warmly, if not as logically, upheld by the Premier. In tins matter the Government secured a majority or seven. The Governor’s salary and the cost of the Legislative Council came under the review of Mr. T. E. lay lor, who Ins developed his old fighting form. Mr. Taylor thinks that the Governor ought to suffer curtailing of his salary, in “keeping with the retrenchment or the Civil "Service, but, as he cannot move a reduction in the vote for His Excellency, he is going to introduce a Bill to reduce the salary to £3OOO. Needless to say, his efforts are bound to prove futile in the present- circumstances, nor is any attack on the Council likely to prove effective. He bitterly complained that that body was doing no work, but as a matter of fact, it has been starved by the House since the opening of the session, and has had only money Bills, which it cannot amend and need not discuss. . The Premier’s explanation of ins retrenchment- scheme was by do means complete, and some members will not be satisfied until they have fuller details. These the Premier does not seem willing to furnish, and the absence of information may set- up an irritation which will delay 7 the passing of the Estimates by several days. THE END OF THE SESSION. No one can say when the session will close. The Opposition do not want to come back after Christmas, neither do most of the Government members, and as “compromise” is in the air just- now, it mav be that certain measures will be allowed to pass before Christmas and the rest deferred until the usual ensuincr ordinary session. On the other band’ the Government may insist on its main policy measures .being -passed, even if prorogation is deferred indefinitely.