A SESSION FOR BUSINESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 10

A SESSION FOR BUSINESS

The Prime Minister was asked in the House of Representatives yesterday to fix a date for the end of the Address-in-Reply debate, the reason given for urgency being that the country was anxious to see the report on the Ottawa Conference and the legislation depending on it. Whether their appearance is contingent on the debate being ended or not aquick despatch for this formality would be welcome. Even if the legislative programme is small, the year is well advanced, and nobody, least of all, it might be imagined, the members, is anxious to see the session extend beyond the Christmas holiday period. There has already been a session of considerable length this year, and there should lie neither need nor desire to prolong the current sitting by formalities and speeches which could he dispensed with, leaving nobody poorer for the loss of them. As there have twice been two sessions in a year it is a pity the method followed in Great Britain could not be adopted here. The practice there is to open Parliament with a speech from the Throne, and the traditional procedure which has been transplanted into this Dominion. Then Parliament goes into recess some months later without being formally prorogued, and is able to assemble again for business free from the delays and formalities incidental to the opening ceremonies. Until recently New Zealand has been accustomed to hold one continuous session each year. The circumstances which have required two have been exceptional. It need not be anticipated, nor would it necessarily be desirable, that the unusual procedure of the last two years should be made permanent; but in the ovent of it becoming necessary again it would be worth considering whether a mere adjournment, not requiring a second formal opening, would not be sufficient for the interval between sittings. The formalities of an open' ing are rich in tradition no doubt, but their gold may easily become tarnished with too much use.