OVERWEIGHTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 233, 2 October 1929, Page 21

OVERWEIGHTED.

THE TWO OPPOSITIONS.

BUSINESS PROGRESSES

SLOWLY.

THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

Notice of a motion to take Mondays for sittings for the remainder of the session, and the carrying of a resolution when the House met to-day that a formidable number of classes in the Estimates be regarded as urgent, showed that the Government is concerned over sessional delays, which are due principally to the 'existence of two Oppositions, with an inevitable doubling of discussion without any attempt at obstruction.

The difficulty was discussed to-night when the House in Committee, having made fair progress on the Estimates, was informed by the Prime Minister that he did not expect the education and scientific research votes to be passed at that sitting, which had then gone long beyond the 5.30 adjournment prescribed by the Standing Orders. "That's good news," chorussed a number of Reform members. But Sir Joseph reminded them they had not got on very fast with the Estimates, only 26 classeß having been passed, leaving 35 to be considered. The time was approaching when business would have to be expedited.

Mr. Bitchener: We will be here six weeks yet. Sir Joseph Ward: We can make it two months if you like, but there is no need. If we get the Estimates out of the way we could get the session finished by the end of the month. The Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, remarked that the proposed night's programme was not unreasonable, but he commented on the fact that classes were being submitted when the House had not had a chance of discussing the departmental reports on them. He asked the Leader, of the House to give this opportunity even if the Estimates were first approved. "There is grave danger of the new Standing Orders breaking down," was the opinion of Mr. Holland, Leader of the Labour party. He suggested that Sir Joseph Ward should consult the Leaders of the two other parties to make a mutual arrangement for facilitating business.

Sir Joseph Ward replied that he was quite willing to do this in respect of the programme of Estimates.