PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? '_.-'■ FEELING OF MEMBERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SBECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] * Wellington, Monday. There is still a feeling of considerable uncertainty amongst members whether the session will end at Christmas or whether -t will be continued after the holidays as suggested. There is a general disinclination, as already pointed out, to return at the end of January or the beginning of February, and some members state their belief, as well as their hope, that after all the session will not extend beyond Christmas. The matter, however, is still very much in doubt, and the issue wiH depend upon the work done during the next three or four weeks and the extent of the expressed desire of the Government to put through the whole of its Budget programme before the prorogation, as probably two-thirds at least of it must be shelved unless the session is continued as suggested by the Prime Minister. In addition to the policy Bills,. there cue the Consolidated and Public Works Estimates to be disposed of, and they alone will probably occupy ouequarter of. the time now remaining before Christmas. •

One suggestion that has been made is that the session should be closed at Christmas and that next year's session should begin in May instead of June, thus affording an additional few weeks for the transaction of postponed business. This proposal, if it took practical shape, would probably prove more popular than the continuation of the present summer session into, the new year.