SATURDAY EVENING'S SITTING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13610, 20 December 1909, Page 8

SATURDAY EVENING'S SITTING.

A MIDNIGHT INCIDENT

ESTIMATES STILL UNFINISHED,

(SPECIAi TO "THE PRESS."') WELLINGTON, December 19. The discussion on the Estimates was continued last evening, but they had to be left unfinished at midnight. The debate during the evening was not productive of anything exciting. At two minutes to midnight, when the division on the. Crown Suite Act had just been concluded, Mr Massey asked the Prime Minister if he intended to move to report progress in order that the Speaker take the chair. The Prime Minister said that he did not intend to do so. Mr Massey: What do you intend to do?' . Sir Joseph Ward: "To go on at xO o'clock on Monday morning." Mr Massey: "You may find yonrse.. in. a difficulty. I refer you to Standing Order No. 54." Sir Joseph Ward: "I know all about that. The Public Works Statement will come down on Monday; I may state that: ,. The Chairman then (at one minute to twelve) called upon the Maori Land Settlement Account Estimates, and the vote waa agreed to on the stroke of midnight. The Chairman (rising): "According to Standing Order No. 54, I will now . leave the chair and resume it at 10 o'clock on Monday morning." Mr Hemes: -luay I call your attention to the Standing Order oi?" Mr Wilford (as he left his" seat): "1 ca ?? ot ar you ' ll *? after 12 o'clock."' Mr Maesey: "This means coming back after Christmas." Sir Joseph Ward: "Hear, hear." Ihe Standing Order No. 54, to which allusion iras made, provides that when

the Chairman leaves the chair at midnight on Saturday, he shall resume at 2.30 p.m. on Monday. Ihe House, however, has passed a resolution to the effect that the House lor the remainder of the session shall sit at 10 a.m. daily, and the Chairman has held that this overrides the Standing Order. In this he .appears to be cor" rect, and he- is supported by precedent. Friday's sitting is thus stLli unfinished; it will be still technically Friday with the House when it resumes in committee to-morrow morning.