PREPARING FOR THE SESSION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 14

PREPARING FOR THE SESSION

* LABOUR CAUCUS TO BE HELD SOON LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME FOR NEXT WEEK [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON, February 24. At the moment there is no great activity in Parliament Buildings,, although the messengers and others who are employed elsewhere during the recess are filtering back to work in the corridors and lobbies. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) is still keeping curtailed hours in his attendance at his office. He was present at a meeting of the Cabinet this morning, but when the meeting was resumed this afternoon the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) took charge of the proceedings. However, the Prime Minister’s health is rapidly improving', and he is firm in his intention to attend a Labour Party meeting at Featherston on Saturday, and to visit Auckland for the opening of the Catholic centenary celebrations early next week. Considerable political importance is expected to attach to the address Mr Savage will give at Featherston. Mr Savage indicated in an interview that he would take the occasion to recall the conditions which existed when his Government came into office, survey the work of the last two years, and probably devote some attention to the Government’s prospective legislation Various other Ministers have been away from Wellington at intervals during the last week, but they are gradually reassembling. A caucus of the Government party is bound to be held shortly, but as the Prime Minister will leave for Auckland on Sunday night, the actual date has not yet been fixed. In any case, when Parliament resumes on Tuesday, it is expected that tributes will be paid to the memories of former legislators who have died during the recess, and that the House of Representatives will then adjourn until Wednesday. One Government bill of some importance, the Health Amendment Bill, is still on the order paper, and, in addition, there is a motion for the ratification of conventions adopted by the International Labour Conference at Genova. These two matters, together with tormal business, will probably occupy 'the House for at least a week.