PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 172, 22 June 1926, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

lAIPREST AND ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

[Special to Standard.] AVELLINGTON, June 22. This afternoon Parliament will discuss the first Imprest Supply Bill of the session after soino ordinary formal business has been taken. The bill will bo put through all its stages at one sitting, so that the necessary money will be available for State departments to carry on.

A wide scope is allowed in the debating of Imprest Bills. The Address-in-Reply debate will follow on AVednesday evening. An amendment tantamount to a vote of no-confi-dence in the Government will be moved by Mr H. E. HoUand ; tho leader of the Labour Party, which is functioning for tho first time as His Majesty’s Opposition. A vigorous general attack on Government policy and administration may be expected, with especial emphasis on the present unemployment question. Tho Address-in-lleply debate is usually responsible for a groat waste of Parliament’s time as members are inclined to serve their election speeches up again. One of the Australian Parliaments puts a limit of four days on an Ad-dross-in-lteply debate, and there is a growing feeling that a similar limit should be imposed here, because, after the principal speakers have had their sav, the House becomes more and more like a county council or a road board in the references that are made to minor wants in the electorates. So long as the standing orders remain as at present it will be impossible to check the flow of small talk tjint goes on during an Address-in-Reply debate. The question may be taken up seriously when necessary and somewhat overdue amendments in Uie standing orders are being dealt with.