SESSION'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 79, 30 September 1924, Page 7

SESSION'S WORK

THE PROGRAMME AHEAD STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER A statement as to the work already done, aud what he desired the House to do before the . session ' conies to an end, was made by the Prime Minister : in the House of Representatives last night. The legislation already passed by the House of Rpresentatives, he said, comprised 25 Government Bills, 14 local' Bills, and five private Bills, a total of 44. He did not think there was very much wrong with that. Some of the Bills had been of 'minor importance, it was true, but they had been passed. The list of Government measures on the Order Paper was as follows :—Dairy Industry Amendment, Dentists Amendment, li'ootweai1 Regulation Amendment, Government Accident Insurance Amendment, Gaming Amendment) Insurance Companies' Deposits Amendment, Land' and Income Tax (annual), Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks, Scaffolding and. Excavation Amendment, Stamp Duties Amendment, and Trustee Amendment. The following measures were before Select Committees:—Chattels Transfer, Education Reserves, Fruit -Control, Government Railways Amendment, ' Land and Income • Tax Amendment, Land Transfer (Compulsory Registration), Local Legislation, and Motor Vehicles.

Legislation yet to be submitted was as follows:—Dairy Produce Export Control Amendment, Education Amendment, Egmont National Park, Legislature Amendment (No. 2), Licensing Amendment, Opticians, Pensions Amendment, Railways Authorisation, Veterinary Surgeons, Honey Export Control, Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment, Samoa Amendment, Britjsh. Nationality and Status £of Aliens Amendment, Eating Amendment, Maintenance Orders Amendment, Agricultural Credits Bill, Magistrate's Court Amendment, Kauri Gum industry Amendment, Tongariro National Park Amendment, Mining Amendment, Coal Mines Amendment, Native Trustee Amendment, Washing-Up Bill, Public Works' Amendment, Main Highways Amendment, Electric Wiremen's Registration, Kawarau 'Control and Validation, Finance BiH, Repayment of Public Debt, Social Hygiene, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment, Customs Amendment (tobacco duty). "That will take some time," remarked Mr. G.. Witty .(Riccarton) when the Prime Minister mentioned the Fruit Control Bill. .Mr. Massey: "Oh, I think not. I think it will please the great majority of the House." The Leader of the Labour Party (referring to Mr. Witty's remark): "That is the rebel voice on the Government bencth.es." Mr. Massey: "I thought it was the voice of the honourable member." Mr. Holland quietly remarked that it was not the "still, small voice." Regarding the Agricultural Credits Bill, Mr. Massey remarked that he was not quite clear about the title of that Bill, but the title he had read out was good enough in the meantime. The Leadev of the -Opposition. (Mr. T. M. Wilford) inquired how many of the list he had uead out the Prime Minister proposed to put on the Statute Book this yeur, and how many next session.

"I expect to get them all on the Statute Book this ;year," said Mr. Musßey. The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Invercargill): "When do you expect to get through?" "This day niosath," replied the Prime Minister. Mr. Massey mentioned that the Law Drafting Department was working overtime now on BiDs. It was very hard to keep up with the House when it settled down, and he was glad to say that lately the House had been working very well. Mr. Wilford asked that this session the Prime Minister should only include in the Appropriation Bill clauses dealing witlrl money appropriated by Parliament through the Estimates. The Appropriation Bill should be kept purely and simply for appropriations. Mr. Massey replied that only that morning he had directed that nothing but financial proposals should appear in the Finance Bill. He thought that the Finance Bill would be pretty late this session, and that would give an opportunity to place in it some measures which Mr. Wilford said had been put in the Appropriation Bill in the last few years.