The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1923. WORK OF THE SESSION.

Evening Star, Issue 18336, 25 July 1923, Page 6

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1923. WORK OF THE SESSION.

Tilt: session has lasted for six weeks, ! ! but a day. It has five weeks,-short i-

day, to run if its business is to be finished in time for the Prime Minister to catch tho latest boat—on August 28—which will allow him to be present at tho opening of the Imperial Conference. Much more must bo dune in tho five weeks—twentyfive sitting days—than the longer preceding term lias seen accomplished if a respectable showing for almost three months’ work is to be made at tho close of tho session. If tho strength of the Cabinet had not been reduced by sickness and death as it has been since tho short session was held, if the Government's majority was less precarious than it is, there would bo no,valid reason why Parliament should bo adjourned bocauso tho Prime/ Minister is required to bo away from the dominion. In tho actual circumstances of the case, and in view of all the zeal that lias been shown by tho two mutually opposed Oppositions to bring “about the fall of tho. Government just as soon as that can bo done, irrespective of any concern for what would happen afterwards, it would bo a bold Premier and a bold ruling party who would allow tho House to go on sitting in its leader’s absence. Mr Massey makes it plain that he is not .prepared to make any such display of hardihood. If the House cares to put

its best foot forward, and get a rcasqnablo proportion of its work done before tlio time comes for him'to !eave don, lio will go. If tlio House is not ready to adjourn by thb necessary date bo will remain with it, and tho conference will sit without him. The conclusion to bo drawn from that statement is that tho session will end on or within a few days of August 28, since, however it might bo pleased to harass him before his departure, no party would! caro to be responsible for preventing tho performance by the Prime Minister of an Imperial duty. The only, question is how much work is likely to bo completed before tho session doses. Tho business that is on tho stocks is not heavy. Mr Massey stated yesterday that ho had seen much more business done in tho last twenty-five days of a normal sessjon. lie might have added that ho has seen it dono very badly in the rush which politicians are apt to prefer for their final sittings; but there is no reason why, aside from tho party spirit and tho natural perversity of politicians, tho work that is now on the order sheet should not all, or tho greater part of it, bo reasonably despatched in the five weeks that remain for business, Tho Advances Bill has passed the lower House. Farmers, or a proportion of thorn, will expect a most thorough effort to be mads by the Government to secure tho passing of the Hairy Produce Export Bill, but it is not’ clear that its failure to pass would amount to a, calamity. Mr Massey regards his most important measure, very properly, as tho one to give relief to soldier settlers, and there arc other financial Bills which must bo passed. There is no real hurry for now licensing legislation, as tho next poll would not naturally bo taken till 1925, even if a General Election should bo needed before then. Tho Electoral Bill which has been promised stands on another footing, but it has never been suggested, from tho Government side, that that measure would bo passed this session. Tho worst fear which those who arc most desirous of a better electoral system have some cause to fool f|r it is that when tho Government has' heard all their suggestions for change it will declare that, in tho multitude of conflicting proposals, no agreement which would result, in a better system than the present one has been found by it. Tho Estimates must make a big cut in the time which remains to Parliament, but if some Bills have to bo sacrificed which tho Oppositions would prefer to see reach the Statute Book they must reflect on tho time which they wasted in tho earlier weeks of tho session. Probably they will reflect on it—with pride.