CLOSE OF THE SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15124, 15 October 1912, Page 9

CLOSE OF THE SESSION.

MOTHER FORTNIGHT'S WORK

; ' TaE PREMIER'S PROGRAMME

'-■ \ LAND AND DEFENCE BILES.

{3r xnaaiAPir.-sraciAi. craauaroxßiST.]

~'.l_- Wellington, Monday. ' ftß closing days of tho session were en- •-' - ; - - —'♦'lis evening, when the House r tered upon tJiis i.\un>. - . V-•• J Representatives met to dispose ol local •' Bills of which there were 16 on the Order ' v Pare'r Members were not greatly inter- "■■':.■• ,d jn the prospects of the sitting, and ~.-:'•'1 n 'he prinio Minister moved to suspend :■■-£ standing orders to enable, the Hills *v-" to pas* through all stages, it. was only ''■tba fortunate entrance of a couple of members that enabled Mr. Speaker to announce : A that there wore th* 40 present necessary pass such a motion made without no- ,.''•' To-morrow afternoon the Prime Minister ill moke a statement to tho House rerardin:; the legislation which he proposes ..; tn complete this session. Ten Bills introduced by ihe Government are to be ; dropped."but none of them are of material importance. (Seventeen Bills already introdnced remain to be dealt with, and Bills i-r: providing for secret ballots of industrial ■ oaions on strike and other similarly important proposals and for tho issue of DoJ minion licenses to plumbers {ire to be added >'".%)' tho list'- Most of these measures are 3lreadv well advanced, and there is little '£'•■'doubt "that the session will bo brought to a close before the end of this month. The : following list contains the public Bills which will probably form the Government's programme for the remainder of the session, and an indication of the present condition of each: Pharmacy Amendment, local Authorities' Superannuation Amend.'■i: inent and Justices of the Peaco Amend- : ment, (amendments by the Legislative Council to be considered), Widows' Pen-

sioas Amendment (consideration of report

- bv committee). Thomas George Macarthy '-Trust, (third reading). Aged and Infirm > Persons Protection (to lie committed),

Births and Deaths Registration Amendment

(to be committed). Cemeteries Amendment, Public Revenues Amendment, Cook Islands Government Amendment and Barmaids Registration (second reading), Land Agents' Registration and Defence Amendment (to be committed), Land Laws Amendment (second reading). Native Land Amendment

(before Native Affairs Committee), Pollution of Water (before Agriculture and Stock Committee), and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation (before Labour Bills Committee). Before Parliament rises there are also to be passed a Loan Bill, an amendment of the Government Railways Act containing provision for increased pay to railwav servants, and a big washing-up BilL

The list is a formidable one, but many of the measures mentioned" are purely technical, and will not occupy much time when members are in energetic mood. This week will be one of hard work. To-morrow the House will go into Committee on the Defence Bill, and it may reasonably be presumed that the whole day will be occupied with the consideration of the important proposals which are contained in this measure. The Minister for Lands {Hon. W. F. Massey) proposes to move the second reading of his Land Bill on Wednesday, and though a keen, and probably long debate will follow his speech members are generally of opinion "teat" there will be much less, opposition to the Bill than was originally anticipated. Numerous speeches in favour of its proposals will be made by supporters of the Government, and probably there will be little restriction of the debate, so that the Bill may afterwards have a ' clear passage through" Committee. The provisions of the Pollution of Water Bill excited some suspicion, but the modifications made by the Agriculture and Stock Committee will probably meet all objections. The Public Works Statement, will, unless some entirely unexpected circumstances arise, be delivered on Fridav evening. m The Prime Minister has determined not to attempt the reconstruction of the Arbitration Court until the industrial conditions of the country aTe more peaceful. The only legislation directly hearing on the existing industrial laws will therefore be a short Bill containing the secret ballot proposals. Satisfactory progress is being made by the Legislative Council with the legislation sent forward from the Lower Chamber. ft has devotedmuch time to the Public Service Bill and has now, sitting in Committee of the whole House, adopted the principal policy clauses of the measure. The Bill may complete its Committee stage to-morrow. The Council will shortly consider the proposal to reduce the term of ■future appointments to the Upper House Itfl view of the Bill is anticipated with Rome little interest. Its reception cannot be accurately forecasted, though it is generally presumed that the Bill will be allowed to reach the Statute Book without much | objection. ■ j