POLITICAL NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2669, 26 November 1909, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

A RECORD OF SLOW PROGRESS.

(Special to "Times.”) WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. The tale of Government Bills is still , piling up, while little is being -done to reduce them. Three sittings have been, devoted to the State Guaranteed Advances Bill: and the Hospitals _ and Cliaxitable Institutions Bill is still at the report stage. At the time of writing it is thought it may be polished pfr at a late hour this sitting, if the Advances Bill gets out of the road. That - will then be the first policy Bill through the House apart from the Loan Bill during this session. To-chiy the Hon. J. A. Millar gave notice of two more measures likely to prov<> more or Ibss controversial* viz., the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. With these there are fifteen Government orders of the day on the order : . paper, besides a long list of local ana 5 private Bills. The Estimates are yet untouched, save the first item. _ The Public Works Statement and Estimates have yet to come down. The Policeand Timber Commission reports have still to bo discussed. There are multi- vtudinous other matters which must, or 7 ought to be, considered, and yet members freely talk of closing up in less than four weeks. THE LAND BILL. The Land Bill does not soem to have much, chance of passing, in its present form at any rate. It can only be done by the combined forces of the Government, who have given way _on their original policy, and the Opposition, who are somewhat thankful for the email mercies vouchsafed to them. Some of the strenuous leaseholders on the Government side will assuredly sacrifice conviction to part?’ in the ultimate. But all this notwithstanding, there is so much controversial matter in the Bui that it is extremely doubtful if it sees the Statute Book, even if the session continues until March. THE LICENSING LAW. There is a good deal of comment among members of Parliament anent the latest development of the proposed Licensing Bill, and it may bo considered very doubtful if, under the present con- " dition?. a Bill will be got through this session, even if the subject is not set aside altogether. The double ballot for local and general prohibition, decided upon by the No-Liceuso Conference makes a great difference in ihe original compact, and it is generally understood that the license party will not agree to the alteration proposed. Dr. Findlay, who has been approached on the subject, declines to make any statement * 1 of fact or opinion at present.