POLITICAL NEWS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 July 1924, Page 7

POLITICAL NEWS

TIME TO TALK, i DEBATES PRECEDE BILLS. , -THE .PREMIER'S ADVICE. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) m WELLINGTON, July 1. The House of Representatives faces the prospect of several weeks’ debate, first on the Address-in-Reply, with at least- two no-confidence amendments, and then the financial debate. Consequently when members put questions to the Premier to-day urging the importance of the early introduction of Bills, he retorted that facility in debate would, pave the way for the important legislation awaiting. ' It was pointed out by Mr Perrelle (Awarua) that local bodies cannot raise loans to carry out work in connection with the highways scheme until authorised by legislation, which, it was suggested, should be passed immediately.

Mr Massey replied that the, Government fully understood the urgency of the question, but members would realise that they were on the eve of two debates, usually lengthy, and if they would refrain from long speeches and the moving of amendments the House Mould reach the Bills all the sooner. Noting the amused expressions* of members, Mr Massev continued • There is the trouble. We have got to a posisession which reminded him ot Alice m Wonderland. “The time has come,” the walrus said, ‘‘to talk things.” ~ T / ie ., l>remi .ei; promised Mr.;Holland tnat-, it possible, a summary of public matters available from the Imperial Conference report would be issued to members, and that a fuller report of the Economic Conference would shortlv be printed. ELECTORAL REFORM. “Is the Government determined to pass this session a Bill providing for electoral reform?” asked the Hon J A. Hanan. “If so, will it show' its fi! ICe o-n y ai giving,an assurance that the Bill will not be withheld until late in the session.'”

Mr Massey Vreply was that his questioner knew as an old member that the passing oF legislation : rested, with the House, not. .the Government. As for Ins question, he could answer that an opportunity ,wo ukl arrive of dealing with, the Electoral Reform Bill The Government would circulate it sufficiently early in the session for it to he dC if\ , ut) following the issues whmh he had mentioned, there would financial legislation to he considerW a -S ° f considerable import-

}Y ilforcl: “Why next?” : ‘‘Bccase it is more important than anything else. There is nothing equal in importance to the subject of finance.” e R,-n eV + ir tin J : a PP ar€ ntly to the Electoral -DiU.- the' Premier concluded with this assurance: •m-M®- going on with it (LaughS!) " M -P a rty qnootion.” p G '- Coates, Minister for Railways, informed Air Wilford that for eight or nine months the electrical pv Denarf £id Raß^y' Departpients have been considering the electrification .of lines, and in the course of a week he could give the House the conclusions of .-the Government on this

L^l^'S^pF ll ». ™>ude the Air Coates: “Yes.”