LENGTH OF SESSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 30 November 1927, Page 7

LENGTH OF SESSION

DIFFICULTY IN LEARNING r APPROACHING BUSINESS - ; MEMBERS COMPLAIN & %; '-' (By Telegraph)••'.;..•, x£ \ (From "The Mail's" Parliamentary-•' .:....- Reporter). ..;•_? .JJ WELLINGTON, 29th Several complaints as to the length of the session and the had experienced in securing information as to the nature of business fsidered were voiced in '.the'; HoiiseT.'.-df Representatives to-day. • _ • •■••'■• v-.;.- : ";- '.*> ..'.'Here we are considering the'supply mentary estimates 'and : we'have : noV yet had the ordinary,Finance Bill," said-Mr T. E. • Sidey. "''Last session Irftad occ& sion to compliment the' Government 7 oh the way'in which the business pi;tli,esession had?-been conducted '* but:'l-am afraid I am' unable to'do it-this yYaiv Far top much, time was\vasted in "the earlier part of the .session and ■important legislation has been t^'long,; layed." --K' ''-•'•.' Mr G. W. Forbes complained, of the difficulty of securing any idea of business to be dealt with, asked the Prinie Minister wlieji ho expected the session to end," . said; Mr Forbes, "and the ? only answer I gofc.was,shat> it would end' when the business was 'finished. I think, myself, that was discourteous to say the least of if. It is a most unsatisfactory way of carrying, c** the business of the House;'/This session has been dragged out'to. an unusual length and it is high-time we had some indication of what' is going. t'o">happeh.; The late, Mr Massey was always ~3.0% to give ns some indication of when,the-, House would close down, but : thiSj.yeji"r we have had nothing. Of course it issaid the Opposition has wasted. iiine;. but during the whole time I have been in Parliament I have never known .theOppositipn to be responsible for ,sp. life tie waste of time. The Government-has been entirely responsible for, "it.'.,..,0ne-J day we have cleaned up theorder.paper and the next day it has beeurfuU I have never seen : . anything like-, : itr Goodness knows how many more bills the Government intendsYcV.brmg down."

, "TERRIBLE RUSH" -•:,;"■ "This terrible rush at "the end of-the" session is one of. the things ■■■ ihati'l am: not used to,". said Sir Joseph : Ward v amidst' laughter. '* 'lt "has -hot"lseen customary to put this hea>Vy on." members (laughter) and I want to'entef;, my protest in the interests - of the people and show how unfair it is." He asked members to make cpmparisons,.wJth. the happy past and'referred to:the.straiii'of long sittings, remarking that he felt it and that he was one of the strongest men physically in the House. Members could not. get any idea as to whether a certain Bill which had been waved before the House was to . be.. proceeded with. Why not bring'on the Licensing Bill, kick it about, and let it go on to the Legislative Council, if that place wanted it. "I understand/' 'that they are waiting for itwitht their mouths open" (laughter). They should get the ball off the tight rope, otheiw wise how was it to bo got'. firma and kicked about?