BARREN SESSION

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 November 1924, Page 5

BARREN SESSION

WHO IS TO BLAME? FOR, HUGE WASTE OF TIME. MR, MASSEY’S OPINION. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. When the House was hurrying to complete its business to-day, Mr. Holland remarked that the sooner the session was finished up the better pleased all would be. It had been a fairly barren session. He recalled tlie story of Queen Elizabeth, who asked the Speaker of the English Parliament: “What has gone through?” Tlie reply was: “Seven weeks.” If Mr. Speaker were asked to-day his answer would be: “Four months and a Gaming Bill.” Mr. Holland thought they would -leave it at that.

Mr. Massey said lie did not think the session had been barren. If it was barren, who was responsible? Labour members: The Government, Air. Massey: Just the answer I expected, but if the session has been barren the responsibility rests with tlm labour benches. (Labour cries of “Oh!”). .When members go through tlie Statute Book they will find that a lot of very good work has licen done from their point of view. What about the social legislation of putting pensions on a better footing? “ \ Mr. Rhodes (Thames): And mining legislation

Mr Bollard: And the Gaming Bill. (Laughter.) Mi. Massey : The lion.' member ought, not to draw too much attention to t.lm Gaming Bill, because lie was Minister in charge.

Mr Wilford.- He did not talk it out (Laughter.) Mr. Massey: I have seen Ministers and private members doing far too ”i"fh talking when in charge of a Rid , { V n clad. to sav he had no fault in that direction. (Laughter.)