OVERWORKED MINISTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 221, 17 September 1919, Page 9

OVERWORKED MINISTERS.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") "WELLINGTON, Tuesday. A newspaper paragraph of a sympathetic nature about the overworking of Ministers through the attentions of deputations was brought "before the (Premier's notice by •Mγ. E. Xcwman, -who asked Jiow long the eeseion was likely to last. He assumed that the general election would have to take place before the second week in iDecember. Allowing three weeks for the campaign it only gave iive weeks for Parliament's work. Mr. Massey replied that he agreed with the paragraph, but hundreds of people come to Wellington on Parliamentary business, and had to he seen. Members had but 112 questions to Ministers in one week. The Government hae no complaint about the amount of work done by the House, and they would ask it to sit on Mondays shortly. If members kept in the same working mood they coul-d show a very creditable working rooord in the next five or six weeks. Sir Joseph 'Ward asked when tjhe 'Financial Statement was likely to be presented, as he understood that the question of the war gratuities, which had 'held up th& statement, was now settled. He aleo wished to know if legislation would "be passed enabling soldiers not yet in New Zealand to get the opportunity to vote.

The Premier said nearly all the soldiers would, be back by election time, but, to make cure of giving them an opportunity to vot<C legislation vas being prepared. The latit Budget paragraph had been prepared, so that the statement was not far ofT. hut. owing to the difficulty of prompt distribution, a little nigra -time, would be required.