THE SESSION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20381, 30 October 1931, Page 10

THE SESSION.

end drawing near. HOUSE TO. SIT DAILY. (?az3* MsocuTios ntLianii.) WELLINGTON, October 80. In the House of Representative this afternoon, the Et. Hon. G. W. I ;rbes moved that for the remainder , t the session the House should sit dail; irom Monday to Saturday from 2.30 p*r.. till midnight.

Mr J. T. Hogan (Ind., Eangftikei) said that there had been four mouths of wasted time. Practically nothing had been done, partly because the House had not been led. It was regrettable that business should have to be rushed through in the dying hours of the session to enable the Parties to hurry off to the electorates. The House should have been advised months ago as to the probable date of the election. The Government had endeavoured to manipulate matters for the purpose of maintaining its occupancy of the Treasury Benches. Mr H. G. E. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) said he was only sorry Mr Hogan had not discovered the nature of the Government long ago. Mr Hogan: So am I.

Mr Mason declared that Mr Hogan "s contention that the House had lacked leadership was profoundly true. Mr D. McDougall (U., Mataura) referred to the number of Bills Mr Mason had had on the Order Paper, and said that the two members who had spoken had wasted as much time as anyone else. It seemed to him. to be a case of sin reproving sin.

Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, said that the sooner the members went before the electors the better it would be for the country. The Labour Party had committed itself to a statement that it would enable the session to be brough to an end as soon as possible and would honour that commitment. He hoped that the Prime Minister would go on with the Broadcasting and Transport Licensing Bills. Ordered to Withdraw. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) said Mr Mason had a perfect right to bring forward Bills he considered necessary. "It ill becomes the Prime Minister to sneer," he began, but was ordered to withdraw the word "sneer." Mr Parry: I will withdraw the word "sneer." I will say his school child smirk ill becomes a man occupying such an important position. The Et. Hon. J. G. Coates said it was important that the election should bo held sufficiently soon to avoid interference with the normal Christmas trade. There were quite a number of important Bills that would have to be dropped. Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier): Does that include the Transport Bill? Mr Coates said that an amendment to the transport legislation would be put through. It would, at any rate, be sufficient to get over the immediate transport difficulties. He presumed that immediately after the elections it would be found necessary to put through some other measures, no matter what Government was elected. Mr Forbes remarked that he felt veiy disturbed by the warmth of Mr Party's remarks. He had even been castigated when he had smiled. He assured the House thait the Government would go on with, the main Bills. The motion was adopted.