SESSION CONTINUES

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 6

SESSION CONTINUES

ADJOURNMENT TILL MONDAY. OBSTRUCTION TACTICS. The endeavours of the Government to, bring the session to an end last night proved fruitless. Meeting at 11 a.m.. the House of Representatives proceeded to discuss the Education Amendment Bill, fixing the number of education districts at nine ; and the debate upon this Bill lasted until well into the afternoon. Then a hold-up occurred on the Factories Act Amendment Bill, which proposes to permit a condensed milk factory in the South Island to work its employees about nine extra hours per week during four summer months, paying overtime. It wa6 explained by the Prime Minister that the proposed extension of hours was necessary to the industry, but the Labour members, assisted by others, organised a strong resistance, and shortly before 9 p.m. Mr. Massey moved to report progress. Labour members smiled delightedly. Some small Bills were advanced stages, and then, at 9.30 p.m., the Prime Minister moved that the dinner adjournment be for an hour to enable Cabinet to meet. The meeting, however, proved a lengthy one, and the House did not resume until 11 p.m. Again there was evidence of, determined oostruction over an amendment to the Counties Act, introduced by Governor's message, dealing with the appointment of arbitrators in the determining of rents from city reserves. In this instance the reserves were Wellington city reserves. A hot debate raged until, at 12.30 a.m., the Prime Minister, to the surprise of many, moved the adjournment of the House until 2.30 p.m. on Monday.