THE WEEK AND ITS PROSPECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 152, 28 June 1915, Page 7

THE WEEK AND ITS PROSPECTS.

LOAN BILL AND REPLY DEBATE POLITICAL PORTENTS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Owing to the necessities of finance and the importance of petting the procedure attendant upon loan raising under way as early as jjoseible. the Hose of Representatives wUI probably be called on to waive priority to the Addresp-in Reply debate. When ii meets an Tuesday, the first business taken will, ku far a's the programme stands at present, be the Loan Bill, the Government being d-esir-oufi of getting the measure put through before the House settles down to talk on the opeining debate of the session. It is possible that provision will be made for the raising of a part of this loan in the Dominion, birt, wherever the money comes from, it is recognised that an increased rate of interest will in all probahility hare to be paid, although the bulk of the loan will be raised under the existing arrangement with the Imperial Government. The Address-in Reply debate is expected to make its debut on Wednesday evening, when Mr. C. J. Parr, tho new member for TMcn. will move: "That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency." COALITION" TALK DROPPED. Tt has been rumoured that, in the course nf his speech. Mr. Purr would suggest the denira.blene.6t, of eliminating party rancour dring the present crisis by a coalition in some acceptable form: it is probable, however, in view of the fact that coalition ideas are daily fading out of existence, that the mover of the Address will eschew such delicate ground. THE COST OF LIVING. The seconder will be Mr. Downie Stewart, of Dunedin West. This member is J a well-known student of economics, and it ;is anticiated that he will probably open up that most thorny of Parliamentary subjects, the cost of living question. Now, from opinions let fall by various occupants of the Opposition benches, it is very evident that a nunrber of them are keenly desirous of ventilating grievances on this cost of Jiving topic, and the introduction of it by Mr. Stewart will, in every likelihood, release the floodgates of eloquence, which will not be easily dammed.

BREAKERS AHEAD. There is an uneasy sensing of breakers ahead among many members, and that the honeyed .sweetness of FridayV sitting cannot be taken as a sure criterion of continued love and α-mity between the opposed political parties. The Opposition feel thai, while they are in honour bound to refrain from harsh criticism respecting all measures which c.in be justly brought under the ratcgorv ->! any souse bound to sit silent upon matters of ordinary polity affertinß the intenral welfare of the country. The cost of living question one which so close] v alfccts the domestic economy of (he people of New Zealand at the present time, and has so many vital issues of local public concern attaching to it. that it can be regarded as a matter for legit; mate and unhampered debate, and some candid criticisms may be expected in consequence. The Prime Minister 18. naturally, anxious to see the Address-in Reply debate cleared up a* early as possible, in order to make room for a number of small war bills ready for the house. Aβ it is always dangerous tn give members more pabulum in the shapeof bills while this debate is in progress, it is probable that the promised early sheaf will be diplomatically withheld until the last speaker has had hit- preliminary opportunity of unburdening himself of general views and opinion?.