THE SESSION

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21437, 1 April 1935, Page 10

THE SESSION

Completion of Main Business HOUSE MAY RISE ON THURSDAY (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 31. Although the main business of the session has been completed, and although interest in Parliament's proceedings has largely evaporated, it is unlikely that the House of Representatives will be able to rise for the recess until Thursday at tne earliest. The House is actually marking time until the Legislative Council has dealt with an'd returned the Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Bill. Some comments have been made about the long week-end vacation taken by the Council, which is seldom overworked. Had the Council met yesterday it might have been possible to conclude the session on Tuesday. In any case, the powers of the Upper House in amending such a bill are severely limited, and it is not anticipated that the report back to the Representative Chamber will lead to much discussion. The House spent most of yesterday debating two bills relating to native affairs, and throughout the tone of the debate was sympathetic. It was generally considered, Lowever, that the Government should undertake a broader and more energetic policy in dealing with the Maori problem, and that the native race should be led to consider its position in New Zealand society both desirable and important. Native Housing Scheme A point given prominence during the discussion was the necessity for a housing scheme for poorer natives, and the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), in his role as Native Minister, undertook to make suitable provision in a bill next session l'or assisting natives to build homes for themselves. Both native bills were passed yesterday, and a third reading was also accorded the Education Law Amendment Bill, after an amendment moved by Mr C. Carr (Lab., Timaru) to readmit five-year-old children to schools had been ruled out of order. Government bills are to be debated again to-morrow during the first Monday sitting of the session. A Finance Bill containing some miscellaneous provisions will be introduced. The Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill will be dealt with, and the Legislative Council amendments to the Mortgage Corporation Bill will also be considered. The promised debate on unemployment will take place on Tuesday.