THE SESSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 162, 14 August 1914, Page 3

THE SESSION.

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT. GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO ADJOURN. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 13.

Questioned'in the House this evening by Sir Joseph Ward as to the intentions of the Government with regard to the business of Parliament, the Prime Minister said that there were three small public Bills which would have to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. When they were disposed of he suggested that the House should adjourn until Tuesday week. Those Bills should go through to-morrow when the House re-assembled. After the short adjournment he would ask it to ''get on to business," although he did not intend to bring up much contentious matter. But there were many subjects to which he must give earnest consideration. For instance, there were the Financial Statement and the Education Bill, and perhaps.two Loan Bills. He would not ask the House to work long hours, but Parliament had a duty to perforin towards the people and the country, and the Government must see that it was j performed. There was every excuse for what had happened during the last few days, but members would sooner or later get their minds on to the business of the House, and not on other things. Sir Joseph Ward said that the Opposition would give the Government every facility to pass any urgent Bills that were necessary. Regarding the adjournment of the House, he thought that this was the right course. He thought that a week's adjournment was too short. They must recognise that party hostilities had ceased, and everybody in the country was now worked up in the approaching departure of the members of the Expeditionary Force. fi\T eyes were on the first practical step New Zealand was taking to help the Empire, and nobody could be expected to give his mind to important legislation. He suggested an adjournment for a fortnight or three weeks. They could then, being clear of the present position, settle down and bring the session to an early end. He had given the whole matter a great deal of thought, and he sug- v gested that they should adjourn for"' a sufficiently long time to resume in a normal state. The Prime Minister said he would consider the proposal to extend the length of the adjournment, and wouldmake an announcement to-morrow.

THE MORATORIUM.

FURTHER PROVISIONS. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August lit. Amendments to the Mortgages Extension Bill were introduced in the House this evening. The AttorneyGeneral, the, Hon. A. L. Herdmari, explained the new clauses. The most important dealt with leases which included compulsory purchasing clauses. There was another clause to protect building societies from sudden and heavy demands for moneys deposited with' them. The clause referred, only to money deposited for a term, and not on call.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the-amend-ments were in the right direction. He suggested that provision should be: made for the protection of holders of life insurance policies who might, owing to undue circumstances,, find themselves unable to. pay. their premiums and thus lose all they* had paid in. Some such arrangement could be made without casting any undue burden either on, the State or on the insurance companies. Several members heartily supported the suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition.

The Attorney-General, in reply, said that the Government had to be careful, and although many of the suggestions made were very valuable, they could not be adopted." The Government did not wish to interfere between individuals and firms. If it became necessary to do this, a general moratorium would have to be passed. There was no need for this at present. He did not think that the time had arrived to deal wi,th insurance premiums. It must be remembered that the surrender value of the policy was always something iii hand. Sir Joseph Ward: Not in industrial policies. Mr Herdman: I don't know anything about them.

The amendments were agreed to on the voices. l IN THE COUNCIL.

When the Bill reached the Council the Hon. H. D. Bell pointed out that sufficient safeguards were provided by the ample jurisdiction given to the Supreme Court. An important provision allowed the Govcrnqr-in-Council, by proclamation, to impose conditions on the withdrawal of moneys" deposited at interest with savings banks, and other institutions. This was to prevent any run being made on an institution as "the result of panic.

The Hon. O. Samuel (Taranaki) said that if it were not a matter of urgency he would feel inclined to criticise the proposals. His agreement with them was influenced by \ the consideration that reference couldVbe made to the Supreme Court. : The amendments were agreed to. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Abridged Press Association Report.] The Council met at 8 p.m. WELLINGTON, August 13. BILLS. The Hawke's Bay Rivers Board Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. Tho Local Elections Proportional Representation Bill and the Immigration Restriction Act Amendment Bill were read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council went into committee upon the Public Revenues Bill and Civil Service Officers Guarantee Repeal Bill.

The Bills were reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Council considered the Harbours Act Amendment Bill in committee. The amendments made were not of a material nature, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The amendments made in the Mortgages Extension Bill by the House were agreed to. The Council rose at 10.40 p.m.