BIG BUSINESS PROGRAMME

Evening Star, Issue 15344, 19 November 1913, Page 4

BIG BUSINESS PROGRAMME

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 19. During the delate in committee on the Legislature Amendment Bill last night asuccessful attempt was made by Sir Joseph Ward to draw the Prime Minister on the subject of the business to ba brought before Parliament this session. The result was a considerable surprise to those who had anticipated, an early return to their homes. Sir Joseph Ward contended that the House was entiled to know what the intentions of the Government on the subject were. The Opposition, lie added, felt that there was an absence of proper con-' fidence on the part of tho Prim© Minister' a-? to what business was to be proceeded with. If the Opposition got that confidence they would be prepared to say'ht once- what measures they were prepared'to support, and those which they were going to oppose. Why, ho asked, should there he this mystery.' The Prime Minister said tho reason was the delay and obstruction that had taken place, and ho instanced tho Board of Agriculture and Second Ballot Repeal Bills. "We a.re," ho added, "going on with the Bill now before tho House (the Legislature Amendment Bill), and wo are going 'to make it a tost question in regard to the Second Ballot Act. (Opposition dissent.) Now you have it," added Mr Massey. Mr Isitt: Why did you keep it 'qmotl Why didn't you come out openly? —Work Ahead.— Healing further with tho progress of business, Mr Massey said that tho Government were going on with tho Education Amendment Bill, the Stamp Duties. Amendment Bill, and tho Railways Construction and Land Amendment Bill. Ho hoped _to go on with tho Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill, but he was informed by tho Crown Law Officers that it would have to be practically redrafted. He hoped to go on with it ail the same. Ho would also go on with the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, the Distress Amendment Bill, and the Temporary Employees Bill; also with the Rangiora Drillshed Site Vesting Bill (which would not take five minutes) and the Victoria College Amendment Bill. The Defamation Bill would be dropped, and also the Cook Islands Government Amendment Bill. —Labor Legislation.— As to the Shops and Offices Bill, ho proposed to pick out the more important parts and submit thorn to the House by themselves. The remainder could stand over until next year. He was proposing to do exactly the same thing with the Arbitration Amendment Bill, which was at present before the Labor Bills Committee. —Customs Law.— There would be a Customs Law Consolidating Bill. "We cannot very well do without this," he said, " but it has nothing to do with tho revision or alteration of the Tariff. —Rating Native Lands.— The Rating Bill is in charge of the Minister of Native Affairs, and it has passed through the Native Affairs Committee. There is also a West Coast Settlement Bill, a short measure which I think will be agreed to. It contains nothing that can be objected to. —Naval Policy.— Then there is a Naval Defence Bill, which is in charge of tho Minister of Defence, who, I regret to gay, is not abl© to bo present. —Licensing Bill Doubtful.— As to the Licensing Bill, I am not able to speak positively at tho present moment. Until a few days ago we quite made up our minds to go on with it, but there has baen delay, and it may be necessary to ailow it to stand over until nest session. 1 do not commit the Government" one way or the other." ..... —Counties and Mining.— Then there was, Mr Massey went on to say, the Counties Bill, which was at present before a committee. It was only a technical Bill, and he did not think there would be any serious difficulty. The Mining Amendment Bill was before the Mines Committee. —Assistance to Fruitgrowers.— Then there was a Fruitgrowers' Assistance Bill, which would provide £2,400 per l annum to the industry by way of cold storage. Mr Wilford: Wouldn't that be better in the election year? Mr Massey : " We don't require' to bring such proposals down during an election year." 'there was, he added after a bit oi a scene, described elsewhere, a little Bill dealing with the drainage of the Northern Lakes. Also, there were one or two Bills now before the Upper House; for instance, one dealing with hospitals. He did not say that they were the only Bills, but they were the ordy Bills of importance. He had, he went on to say, promised tho member for Waipawa (Mr Hunter) an opportunity of moving the second, reading of his Gaming Amendment Bill, which dealt with the position of country racing clubs, and he intended to keep that promise. There would be a Maori " Wash-ing-up "' Bill. " Now," concluded Mr Massey, " I have taken the House into my confidence as far as I am able to do it." Sir Joseph Ward: Will there be another Imprest Supply Bill? Hon Mr Massey : I don't' think it will be possible to avoid it. A LOCAL NAVY. Sir Joseph Ward said tho Prime Minister did not quite know what he was asking the House to do. He had indicated about 27 Bills, including au Imprest Supply Bill. Then there was the Naval Defence Bill, which contained the Government's intention to create a local navy. Mr Massey : No, a training ship. Sir Joseph Waa-d : It is part of an implied intention to create a local navy in this country, and no one can deny it. Mr Massey: 1 would ask the right hon. gentleman to wait until ho sees the Bill. He is making a mistake. Sir Joseph Ward: 1 know what is in the Bill as well as you do. I want to tell the House and the country that we are not going to be fooled by what is in the Bill. The Hon, F. M. B. Fisher rose to a point of order, and Opposition members protested. The Minister objected to Sir Joseph Ward discussing details of Bills at such a moment. The Chairman: I think the Leader of the Opposition should not discuss details of.Rills. Sir Joseph Ward: Tho Prime Minister has made a statement to the House, and it is very unusual for a subordianto Minister to put his oar in. Hon. Mr Fisher: I will put it in whenever I think proper. Sir Joseph Ward: "I should say that when the Prime Minister wants the Iron, gentleman's assistanoe he knows how to ask him for it." His point was that tho Naval Bill only contained a portion of tho Government's policy. On a point of order, the Chairman ruled that Sir Joseph Ward could refer to a Bill on the Government's programme, but he must not debate it. Sir Joseph Ward said he was not going to debate it, but the Opposition were not going to be led away with the idea that the establishment of a training ship was the policy of the Government. Mr Nosworthy : Then you know more than we do. Sir Joseph Ward : "We ought to, or we couldn't live." (Laughter.) Why were they not told that this Bill (Legislature Amendment) was to be made the opportunity for dealing with the Second Ballot? Hon. Mr Massey: Because of the way' in which you treated the first BilL