THE FINAL SESSION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 177, 27 June 1938, Page 8

THE FINAL SESSION.

BUSY PERIOD AHEAD. WELLINGTON, June 27. The third and final session of th* 25th Parliament of New Zealand, to b* officially opened hv the Governor-Gen-eral Viscount Galway, to-morrow, is likely to be limited to three; months. ‘ ‘We are not going to sit here longer than three months, you' can bank on that,” declared the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), when discussing, the work of the session in an interview on Saturdav. ' , The proceedings to-morrow' are to be practically confined to the official opening. After the reading of the Speech from the Throne, the House of Representatives will transact formal business and then adjourn till Wednesday afternoon, Tim first political skirmish is likely to occur on Wednesday with the introduction of an Imprest Supply Bill making provision for the State services. Mr Savage has indicated that, as Leader of the House, lie will take urgency for tin's measure, which means that there will probably be a late sitting. The debate on such a Bill gives members an opportunity to discuss almost anv aspect of the Government’s policy. The Opposition is not likely to neglect the chance to launch a general attack on the Administration, and in such an event Labour members will not be slow to reply. The Prime Minister lias stated that the debate on the Address-in-Reply to the Speech from the Throne will commence on Thursday evening. In the House of Representatives the motion is to be moved by Dr I>. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West) and seconded by Mr B. Roberts (Government, Wairarapa),; • - T: Mr Savage said it was impossible to say how long the Address-in-Reply debate would take. It might go on for three weeks. This being the final session of the present Parliament, members would be likely to talk perhaps more than they otherwise would, and no attempt would be made to curtail the debate.

“If it turns out that a lot of members are anxious to talk we will have to sit longer hours, that’s all,” said Mr Savage. “We have not, the slights est desire to curtail members’ privileges, but we have got to get the business through. We might get pretty rapidly to the time when we will be sitting on Mondays as well.” It is expected that the Budget will He presented at the conclusion of the Address-in-Reply- debate, and that will he followed bv" the Financial Debate and consideration of the estimatdS of Government expenditure for the current year. LEGISLATIVE MEASURES.

Mr Savage has maderit., clear that, outside the Bill giving 7dfE£ct v to the Government’s social security ‘ proposals and the Education Amendment Bill, only legislation of an essential nature will be considered during this session.

“We don’t want to drag out the session at all,” said Mr Savage. “I am satisfied that we will get through easily in three months. Dragging a session out for five months, or so has always been due to the fact that Governments have not had their legislation ready. That will not be the case in the coming session. We are not going to sit on waiting .for legislation.” The social security proposals - have _J been widely discussed already, but un-

til the Bill appears in ,tlie House it is not likely that the exact nature of the extensions to the Ministry’s original proposals will be revealed.

The Education Amendment Bill was introduced last session and referred to the education committee of the House, which took evidence in public on tlie measure. When it is reintroduced it is lively to reveal several variations from its original form. ;