WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19727, 29 August 1927, Page 11

WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

BUSY WEEK PROMISED. MANY MEASURES PENDING. CHANCES OF SUMMER TIME BILL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, SundayThrough the unfortunate death of the Hon. R. t. Bollard. Minister of Internal .Affairs, Parliament, lost two working days of last week for which a considerable amount of business was on the Order Paper and, as a consequence, the ensuing week promises to be a very busy one. When the House of Representatives assembles on Tuesday it'is expected that some more departmental reports will be presented, and it is probable that after these have been disposed of the House will go into committee to consider the Finance Bill, which was put through its second reading last Tuesday. Other measures which are due for committal are the Egmont National Park Amendment, the War Funds Amendment, the Savings Banks Amendment, the War Disabilities Removal, the Dangerous Drugs and the Legislature Amendment. It is anticipated that the Government may also bring down on Tuesday some of the minor bills on its legislative programme, but exactly what will be done that day will not be decided until Cabinet meets to-morrow. The committee stage of the Summer-time Bill is to be continued during the week, probably on Wednesday. In view of the fact that it is now anticipated that the Railway Department will be able to make suitable arrangements to meet the transport requirements of farmers affected by the operation of summer time it is not expected that the stonewall of last week will be renewed. Should this be the case l it is probable that all the opposition to the measure will do will be to record their protests in Hansard when the bill comes up for its third reading and that it will then be sent speedily to the Legislative Council. Mr. T. K. Sidey and his supporters are confident that the proposals will become law this year, as they assert that they now have a majority in their favour in the Council. The Customs Tariff Amendments, the Licensing Amendments and the Gaming Amendment are still matters for the future, although the first-mentioned measure should soon be ready for presentation to the House. It may come down this week, but although the Minister of Customs, Hon. W. Downie Stewart, is reticent on the subject, there are grounds for believing that some time in the following week is more likely to see the country acquainted with the Government's proposals. The Gaming Amendment Bill is at present at the bottom of the Order Paper and it is uncertain yet whether it will get beyond that stage. The recent dispute concerning the Waikato Labour Day racing permit has had an adverse effect on the prospects of the bill's passing. However, even should it be judged solely on its merits, its passage is problematical.