EMERGENCY SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 10

EMERGENCY SESSION.

PRIME MINISTER'S HOPES..

PROMPT START WITH WORK,,

PROSPECTS AND PLANS.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

[IIY TELEGRAPH.- SFECIAI< REPORTER.J WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

"Our desire is to get down to the real business of the session 'as quickly as possible," said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon., G. W. Forbes, this evening, when discussing the prospects of the emergency session which will open fo-morrow. Mr. Forbes has conferred with tho leaders of the two opposition parties with a view to ascertaining whether'it is possible to curtail tho Address-in-Reply Debate and proceed at the earliest moment to discussion of legislative proposal?. Neither the Rt. Hon,. J. G. Ccates, Leader of the Opposition, nor Mr. TL 13. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party,, could commit their parties, but that aspect will be discussed at tho party caucuses. The Labour caucus was held to-day, but no statement was issued. Tho Reform caucus not yet been held, as several South Island members will not arrive until to-morrow. Length of the Session. However, there is a feeling in the lobbies that Mr. Forbes will bo extremely fortunate if he induces Parliament to dispose of all the business within three weeks. Asked whether he proposed to ask the House to sit on Mondays, Mr. Forbes said that had yet to be decided, but he pointed out that the Government, having its usual administrative routine to carry out. could not have the Housg sitting morning, noon and night. Mr. Forbes holds tho hope, that members will not take undue advantage of the Address-in-Reply privileges, but will withhold their comments on tho Government's proposals until each measur® is brought forward. It was announced by the Prime Minister that the allied questions of civil ser-. vanis' salary reductions and the authorisation of the Arbitration Court to vary awards, in the light of the present economic conditions, would be dealt with in one Finance Bill. That arrangement will probably result in a considerable curtailment of criticism, as only one opportunity for voicing protest will be given. Curtailing Preliminaries. While it is impossible to predict when Parliament will get at grips with the Government bills, every effort is being made to shorten the preliminaries. Following the Governor-General's speech afc the opening to-morrow, references will be made to the deaths of Mr. John Barr, late chairman of committees of the Legislative Council; the Hon. T. Shailer Weston, M.L.C., and Mr. George Hutchison, exmember for Patea. The House will not sit in the evening. Mr. A. E. Jull (Wai-. pawa) will initiate the Address-in-Reply Debate on Thursday, Mr. J. A. Macpherson (Oamaru) will second it and the d(i-. bate will proceed without the usual ad-, journment after the first two speaker# have been heard.

Mr. Coates prefers to keep his own counsel in the meantime regarding the. possibility of Reform launching a no-i:un-i fidonee amendment to the Address-in* Reply. However, that is a question tTi» Reform caucus will consider to-morrow* After the Finance Bill has been dis* posed of the measure for placing the rail* ways temporarily under the control of a non-political board will probably be taken,, after which the way will' be clear for dealing with legislation concerning earth* quake problems. At to-morrow's proceedings Mr. Taita Te Tomo, the new member for Wester;* Maori, will be sworn in. As far as is, known the only sessional absentees will be Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform —Thames), and Mr. V. A. Ward (United—lnvercart gill), both of whom are visiting England* I UNITED PARTY CAUCUS. CONFIDENCE IN MR. FORBES. [by TELEGRAPH. —■> RErORTKit] * WELLINGTON. Tuesday. That the United Party was in fact & united party on the policy recently an- .. nounced by the Prime Minister, Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, was made clear as a result of a four hours' caucus this even* :ing, said Mr. Forbes after the caucus. All members were accounted for. Ha explained the position in regard to the session, and the following resolution was passed:—

" That this caucus of the United Party extends continued confidence in Mr. Forbes, expresses to him its sincerest good wishes on his return to the Dominion from the Imperial Conference, and record:; its congratulations upon the able manner of his representation of this loyal Dominion at that conference. The caucus desires further to express confidence in the courageous and statesmanlike manner in which Mr. Forbes, as Prime' Minister, is facing the present economic situation of. the country with a view to putting it again on the high road to prosperity."-