POSTPONING NEXT SESSION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13907, 5 December 1910, Page 8

POSTPONING NEXT SESSION.

PARLIAMENT NOT TO MEET UNTIL END OF JULY. OPPOSITION PROTESTS. THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. (eriCIAIi TO "THB PKEBB.") WELLINGTON, December 3. In the House of Representatives tins morning, the Prime Minister announced that he proposed proroguing Parliament until July 31st next. Mr Wilford: The country would not mind if there was no sesswn next year. Sir Joseph Ward: In any case the session next year will only last a month or six weeks. The bulk of the work has been done this session. On the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, the Prime Minister said that he expected to arrive back in New Zealand about a fortnight after the commencement of the session next year. Mr Massey said that he must object to the postponement of the beginning of next session. He believed that New Zealand would be very well represented at the.Coronation by the Prime Minister and Dr. Findlay. H© thought the House should meet at the usual time and in the usual way. If Sir Joseph Ward would consent to his proi posal, he would see that everything j would be done by the Opposition to S assist the Minister left in charge. (Hear, hear.) There would be no want of confidence motions until the Prime Minister returned. The Prime Minister said that he was obliged to Mr Massey for his assurance, and agreed that the work could be carried out effectively during his absence. It would be seen, however, that there was another difficulty in the Way. In the Legislative Council the Government had only one representative, and if the Council met at the ordinary time, it would meet without its leader. He did not think that the Legislative Council should carry on its business without its leader. Mr James Allen said that he was sorry the Prime Minister could not agree to Mr Massey's proposal. The clause in the Bill meant that Parliament would not sit till July 31st. There was no necessity for the Council to sit a.3 early as the House, and, besides, a deputy-leader of the Council could be appointed. Tt was possible some urgent matter might arise, and it would be a good time to train someone else in the wotk of leader of the Council. On a division,' the clause was retained by 27 votes to '22. Mr- Herries, speaking on the third reading of the Bill, protested strongly against the postponement of next session for a month. Even with the postponement to July 31st, the session would have to go on without the Prime Minister for tjwo or three weeks. The reason that had been given seemed to mean that the business of Parliament could not go on without the AttorneyGeneral. The Council could be led by someone else. There was important business for next, session, such as the Local Authorities Bill, which was to be circulated during the recess, according to a promise by the Prime Minister. Mr Massey again protested against the postponement. He did not think the loyalty of New Zealand would be any less effectively demonstrated by sending a body of members of Parliament to the Coronation. Ho recalled that when the late Mr Seddon went Home on a similar occasion, the Housegot through a great deal of work under the acting-leadership of Sir Joseph Ward, the Opposition not placing difficulties in- his way. The same experience could be repeated.Mr Buchanan said he wished to ■protest in the strongest manner possible against postponing the session. He emphasised the inconvenience resulting from the uncertainty as to the date of the general election. Sir Joseph Ward said the Opposition had complained that there was too much legislation, and they wer© right in that, yofc they were asking for a long session next year, so that much further important legislation could bo passed. What Mr Herries had suggested was virtually the beheading of the other branch of the Legislature. There would be no injury to anybody through Parliament meeting a few weeks later than usual. His colleagues were all in accord with him as to the postponement. The Government would submit a Local Government Bill, and it would bo a far-reaching measure.