‘Post-mortem' caucus

Press, 17 December 1976, Page 4

‘Post-mortem' caucus

PA Wellington The final Government caucus of the year had had an element of “post mortem” about it, the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said at a press conference yesterday. He said there had been no discussion of his role as Prime Minister and Leader of the House. The Government had a full legislative programme for next year, but there was little controversial in it. The major bill would probably be that establishing the Human Rights Commission, he said.

There had been some discussion of the possibility of giving backbench M.P.s more speaking time in Parliament, and this might prove possible next year. Mr Muldoon said there would effectively be four sessions of the thirty-eighth Parliament because the session for the official opening by the Queen would be

closed after the forma! cere mony.

There would be anothe; subsequent opening of Par liament by the Governor General at which the Gov ernment’s legislative pro gramme for the year woult announced in a Speech froq the Throne. He believed that the secont session of Parliament nexi year would open before hi went to London in June fo: the Commonwealth Heads o: Government conference. Mr Muldoon said he woul< consider rearranging Parlia ment’s sitting hours on Fri, days because he thought th( present practice of sittinj from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. was not working satisfactorily Insufficient business wabeing completed. He preferred a later start in the morning and a latet finished in the afternoon. But the present hours had beer set to assist country' mem. bers to get planes back M their electorates, and this was still a factor in favour oj the present hours.