BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 153, 29 June 1916, Page 7

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT.

Discussing the reasons why he contended Parliament should in future meet on Monday nights, the Primo Minister suggested that several days would be occupied in discussing the War Pensions Bill and the Finance Bill. There was also a "washing-up" Bill, dealing with matters of more or less importance. There would also be a "Kind of All Sorts Bill," deaKng with matters arising out of the war. Then there was the Public Works Statement 'and Estimates and the Supplementary Estimates. - Mr. Wilford.: What are you going 'to do about the cost of living? "That will be dealt with later on," replied Mr. Massey. "I intend to take an opportunity of telling the House and ■the country what has been done before the session ends." It had been suggested: that the Government should purchase, ships. The Government had to get particulars before taking any such step. He had • the pleasure of meeting Mr. Hughes, who was a particularly shrewd man y and he (Mr. Massey) could nob imagine any shrewd business man buying ships at ,„the present juncture.' They knew that when' the end of the war appeared to be in sight the value of a ship would_ go down 50 per cent. He could not imagine a man\of Mr. Hughes's judgment going in for such a huge deal as had been reported in recent cables. If, however, Mr. Hughes had bought them,, he (Mr.' Massey) had no doubt that he had good reason for having done so. . New Zealand did not interfere.with the business of other countries. The Government had quite enough to do to attend to its own business. He admitted, that there wa. a scarcity of coal, but the reason was obvious. It was because a more than usually large quantity wan required for our transports, and' the Imperial Government had requested NewZealand to supply"1100,000 tons per annum for the same purpose. The New Zealand Government had been endeavouring to comply with the request of the Imperial Government, though he admitted that it meant some inconvenience to,the-public. Wherever it was possible, the people of New Zealand would, he was sure, economise.

A 'member ; How about Newcastle?

Mr. Massey said that some of the best cargo vessels afloat were carrying car-go to the New Zealand Government. . There was plenty of coal available, but the difficulty was to get steamers to carryit. There was at least *one first-class, steamer carrying coal from Newcastle to New Zealand, The sacrifices that New Zealand was called upon to make were very small compared with those which other countries had met willingly and cheerfully.

The motion to sit on Monday, night for the rest of the session was agreed to..