SANDS RUNNING LOW.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17230, 26 July 1916, Page 8

SANDS RUNNING LOW.

PARLIAMENT'S HOUR GLASS

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, J'uly 25

Upon tho announcement by the Speaker to-night that in accordance with the usual end of the session practice new business -would be pcrmissable from to-da.y after 12.30 a.m., there was a general chorus of demands to know the remainder of the Government's programme.

The Prime Minister thereupon Informed tho House that there was not a. great deal of business to do. The War Legislation Bill should not be contentious in the ordinary sense, and it must go on the Statute Book. He was not wedded to the Bill in its entirety, and would be willing to accept any reasonable amendments, though ho was not prepared to accept any new clauses.

Mr Witty: You will not accept any thing whatever. Mr Massey: Oh, no, I do not say that.

Mr Wilford: You will accept what pleases you. (Laughter.)

The Prime Minister replied that the Government must be given credit for bringing down what it believed to be reasonable. He went on to say that ho had heard all sorts of rumours about possible delay of the War Regulations Bill. Personally he did not think there was necessity for any delay. The Bill would be before tho House again in a day or two, and ho thought they would lw able to place a satisfactory measure on tho Statute Book. He explained that there would also be a Statute Law Amendment Bill, which was in the nature of another " All Sorts " Bill, the Native Land Bill, the '"'Washing Up" Bill, tho Appropriation BUI and two or three minor proposals to which, he would ask the House to agree.. That was practically the whole business, so far as ho knew.

Mr Witty : How many clauses in the "Washing Up" Bill? Mr Massey: I think about sixty. It is bigger than usual, because clauses have been rolling in during the last few days. He proceeded to explain, regarding claMses from local bodies and others, that if the member for the district concerned objected to any clauseiin the Bill he would not go on with it. The Prime Minister concluded by expressing the hone that when the session ended they would all be ablo to look back and say tbey had done good -work, especially regarding war legislation. Tho Prime Minister's announcement that he would decline to accept any new clauses to the War Legislation Bill is generally known to be aimed at Mr Sidey's intention to try and introduce his " hardy annual," the Daylight Saving Bill, into the measure, while the reference to the rumour about possible delay in the passage of the War Regulations Bill is related to the ist'ue over the early closing proposal, which prohibition eupportars intend to introduce when the Bill is in committee.