HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 105, 30 October 1912, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

v THE END, OF THE SESSION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Isitt asked the Minister of Railways if it is a fact that the Railway Department is carrying beer at the rate of ' four hogsheads to tho ton", whereas the actual weight is 24cwt. The Minis, ter suggested to Mr. Isitt that his best plan would be to put a question on- the order-paper in the usual way. The Public Accounts Committee was given an extension of ten days in which to report on the enquiry into the allocation of loans under the State-guaranteed Advances Act. That will bring the time' in which the committee shall report to next Tuesday. In the course of a discussion that ensued, Mr. G. W. Russell expressed the opinion that the session should be wound Up as speedily as possible. The Opposition had no desire to block tho proceedings, and if the Government made up its mind that the session should end by Saturday or Monday the Opposition Would not 'put any obstacles in its way. They realised that the Government had a majority and should be given an opportunity of carrying through the whole of its legislative programme. Mr. Witty urged that the Government should state which measure it intended to put through. The Opposition desired to facilitate the work as much as possible. ' Mr. Ell urged that the Government should not dr6p tbe Bills now before the Labour Bills Committee. Mr. Veitch said he and those associated with hini were prepared to etay. in Wellington for a month or three months in order to put necessary legislation on the Statute-Book. Even at this late stage it Was advisable. that they should introduce a Bill amending the Arbitration ,Act, 6pend a day in discussing the report of the Cost of Living Commission, with, the object of bringing down legislation next session. Hon. R. M'Kenzie objected- to rushing business, even though they had to spend a few extra days in Wellington. Sir Joseph Ward said it was impossible to avoid rushing business through at the end of the session. When members got " the fever "' the Prime Minister would find it difficult to keep them here. The Prime Minister said he thought the time occupied in the discussion would- have been better spent in putting two or three Bills through their final stages. The session would come to an end when the business on the Order Paper- had been dealt with. There would be a Loan Bill, and he proposed to go on with the debate on the Public Works Statement on Friday. Then there were to be an Education Bill, an amendment to,, the State-guaranteed Advances Act, and a Railways Authorisation Bill. He understood that the Counties Bill was not to be gone on with. The Barmaids Registration Bill Would be placed on the Statute Book. (Left Sitting.)