POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16234, 20 May 1916, Page 9

POLITICAL NEWS AND NOTES

SHORT SESSION INDICATED. EXPEDITING GOVERNMENT BELLS. [BY. (TELEGRAPH— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Friday. Indication that numbers of private members' Bills introduced are likely to meet short shrift was given to-day, when the Prime Minister gave notice to move that from next week Government business take precedence on Wednesdays, and after local Bills on Thursdays. Mr, Massey - Med that he would place the motion on the Order Paper for ■ next sitting day, and that the debate on it would be continued until concluded. From this statement it seems that the usual waste of time over private members' measures which have mo chance of passing will not take place this year, and that the session will be correspondingly shortened.

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. The Minister for Railways stated tonight, in reply to Mr. Mander's question, that it is considered inexpedient to make any alteration in the North Auckland time-table until the line is open to Paparoa. When this section is completed, in a few months, the time-table will be again reviewed and improvements made. REINFORCEMENTS TRAINING CAMPS Replying to-day to a question by Mr. Poole, the Hon. J. Allen said: "It is not considered desirable, in the interest of efficiency, to decentralise the reinforcement training'camp. Having due regard to public expenditure, military contracts are distributed, as far as possible, throughout the Dominion." i COMPLIMENT TO MR. COATES. A compliment to Mr. Coates was paid by the Prime Minister on Thursday evening. Mr. Massey congratulated the member for KaipaTa on the speech he had delivered that afternoon. The speech had special interest, owing to the fact that Mr. Coates was about to go into camp and don khaki. (Applause.) He was certain when Mr. Coates went to the front he would do credit to himself, to Parliament, and to his constituents. He had said the same of other members who had gone, or were going, to the front, and he hoped Chat Mr. Coates would not be the last member of Parliament to go forward for his King and country. Mr. Massey again expressed appreciation of the offer of Mr. J. V. Brown to give Mr. Coates a pair during his absence. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS. The member for Christchurch North, Mr. L. M. Isitt, asked the Prime Minister on Thursday whether he would see that the petition asking for the early closing of hotels was dealt with as early as possible. Mr. Massey replied that the Petition Committees would be set up at as early a date as possible, and no doubt the petition would come before one of them in due course.