THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 57, 8 March 1921, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

PARLIAMENT SITS THURSDAY TO SANCTION PKEMPErVS VIPIT. (By Telegraph.— Special to "S-tar. , ** ■WEZJ.INnrniK. th's day. a P Thursday next Parliament will meet in view of the Prime Minister* visit to England u> attend the Imperial' Conference, and to sanction the neoes-, sarv supplies to ena-ble the Dominion adtr.inistraCon to be carried on pen-ding tlw annual session. Though the primary object of the short se.-sion is to obtain mnreher-" formal consent, to Mr. Massoy's trip—and it is anticipated that this will be iinher.itantly given there are a ntunber of matter* that have ar'.sen since Inst session which cannot eonveniontly be left in abeyance till the Prime Min-wter'-s return in October next. The Governor-Orcnoral, who will have a guard of honour from 11.M.f. Chatham, •will open Parliament with a pv.Tely perfunctory address, the reply to whi.-h, will be moved by Mr. K. £. William(Bay of Plenty) and seconde 1 l>y Mr. I Oraig.e (Timaru). This tcitl open the •flood gates of debate, as members may in the hour at theiT disposal take the opportunity of discussing the Prime Minister's projected journey, matters of Imperial importance as well as matters of Dominion concern. Tb.« most important legislation of th-e session will be the (Finance 83-1, whio.li provides for the serv>es of the Stat* uritil Parliament meets again. Some urgent clauses may be. introduced, and it is unlikely that many Ministers will have mm-h oppoTtunity of bringing even matters of urgency to their respective departments if th«» session :s to be conflned to t<h« ! ten da ye' duration. An amendment to rhe Shops and Offices A«'t of las-t ses-sion i)a« been promised, however, so as to relieve hardship to which small shopkeepers without assistants contend they nave been subjected.