UNTIL CHRISTMAS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 218, 14 September 1944, Page 4

UNTIL CHRISTMAS?

SITTINGS OF HOUSE

IMPORTANT BILLS TO COME

(By Teleeraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The possibility of the present session of Parliament not being completed until -near Christinas time was mentioned by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in the House of Representatives yesterday in reply to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland. Mr. Fraser indicated, however, that an adjournment of a fortnight to a month might be taken towards the end of October, but he said that before any decision was made he would consult the House. Mr.- Fraser remarked that it was not known what developments might take place in Europe, and his personal opinion was that they should not conclude the session until well on towards Christmas. They might even go beyond that time if there were problems in Europe—problems of the Armistice, for instance —and the House should be in session. Mr. Holland: Can you indicate any major legislation? Mr. Fraser replied that the question of whether there was sufficient business to keep the House occupied until the end of October depended to a large extent on the expedition with which the estimates were put through. There were one or two important bills projected. For example, there was the slum clearance measure prepared by the late Mr. Armstrong. Local body finance and other ' important matters were involved in that measure, and it would require' considerable discussion. There was also a bill embodying the Goverment's responsibility under the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, and there was the Quarries Bill, that would consolidate the Quarries Act. That bill would have to go to the Mines Committee. In addition, there was the question of a bill to cover the extension of war damage insurance to cover earthquake risk, and there were also other items of j legislation.