WORK OF THE SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17556, 23 August 1920, Page 6

WORK OF THE SESSION.

-PAST WEEK REVtEVVEO v ; - ' "J. . .-..TWO: ■-.HOTAWB debates; ~.. .x-.'j r-r — c T- ' SERIOUS WORK IN PROSPECT. -' tBT^^^H.^CXAL: ; REPORTER. ] ;, TiTELItENGTON. Saturday. At first sight it might appear as though . Parliament had not much: to show, for the . : week |# endesl, but in spite of having taken an afteruboa off to go to a lootball -match, the Hou*a has manages to cover i . a, considerablo. amount of ground. /.Some of. the discussions *Q»«h oijftapied the 'greatest' amoanfe of, timel might, ~ s=psrficially viewed, appear to have been purposeless. The debates on the Cook Islands and the' Defence reports are cases in point. In neither iasteoc© -was there any material proposal bfilund the" discussion, since the House was.merely being asked to order ,that these reports should lie on the table and be printed. Both were topics on which .many members were determined to express their views at some time or other. As it now stands - the. Government has heard the matter fairly thoroughly ■ thrashed out, and will : have an opportun- '* ity ~% act ; upon any suggestions considered .practicable.' ■..,;=;»";;'.'. , It-is quite obvious that the results of ■this year's* Parliamentary tour , of the islands are going to be felt for some time to come. The House contains many mem•hers" now/ ; who feel they are * entitled to speak with authority on - islands ~ questions, and they ate determined so to apeak . on every possible • occasion. ■ This, week's -.discussion, showed one thing, however. ; Despite their '„being;fresh" from : a recent '■ : ;'-.visit-'.tb> the group, there ate; not many ' -members > who can teach ■;. the Hon. Dr. : PomarO; anything about the details of ad- : ministration there. Dr. Pomaro holds very , -decided views upon what should : he the '*-< policy.'.in "dealing with the islands, and is ;''prepared always to.qnote facta and figures 'in ¥ support of his;;: views. -' Dr. ftrPomare -,■■'• gehenolf amuses.th© House. wli'ehi;he rises • to •;speak,.but he generally.has- some sub- . / stancsi beamdhis lightest* remark, and it must 'be [ admitted; that whatever be the frights arid wrongs of s the islands^ administration ha pat up a,good case for the >-_] Department-. -..'■" f ".,',.;„.,'. ::■-.,-~ r^\'.f VhB Defence Bepsr*. " '■"", . ."? The debate on the-Defence report was ■, : Isoandto be a long one.'-It is a .tcpio ;; w^ich.?mo»t members: feel - a little * sensitrvei and they were all determined to 'have their say.: It was. suggested that • they' might speak on the Defence Estimates instead, but remembering that they would then he debarred* from discussing policy bat • coild criticise "only details of administration, 'members generally refused -to be put off. . The general "deduction; from the opinions expressed is-.that ,; the desire for economy is- going, "to be ; prgss«d: in tho future". administration of the Department. -- '.''■_' '.■'; ". .- V The.-derfsion of $b» Legislative Council -; not in press its amendments to ? the Gaming Bill, has terminated a matter that was growing more complicated every moment. The National Memorial; . / -,- : , -* . ---As is likely to be the case for some . ;weets."ti> come, yesterday -was again de- - vat*-.& to debating , the." Estimates-. I The national war memorial furnished the topic 'to " which . roost" attention was- devoted. Vfdar-gtoa baa placidly accepted the decision _ that she is" to have a national memorial, and the complaint of members , from; other . places; wag. that. Wejlinston was doing nothing: When the issne was resUy; put; before it the '• House, did not in any measure disagree with r the principle, bat"; many members do.not love the jsw of government, and they seized what was an;, excellent opportunity to express' ." feelings. . ... M'. ; ;• Taken all round it may :be described as a .b'asy week. One of the "signs .that serious • work must b? the order of the day,' is that the : Prime Minister gave notice of his intention, to move that oh and: after Wednesday, next Government business should be given preference on Wednesdays. , Private Bills nericefbrth' will standi a. remote chanc*> c? . receivinjr attention,.and thr Hou<!3 required to. settle down to work! 'It has - -••. a-;- gmi * deals yet to; do» and-despite-dpti- ; mistic-viewß to the contrary the" official ;■- -;.- estimate is that the • end will not come .':im©.;sfovember.:.. .'"'--''. - - 5 *~ . -