The N. Z. Times. THURSDAY,DECEMBER 9,1909. WORK OF THE SESSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6996, 9 December 1909, Page 6

The N. Z. Times.

THURSDAY,DECEMBER 9,1909. WORK OF THE SESSION

W«K WHICH 16 IKOOBPOBATED THE "WILLINaTOS ISDKPISSDEHT." ESTABLISHED 1810.

It is hopeless to suppose that the session would end by' Christmas if tJio Land Bill wore persisted with. Wo have had an indication already of tho disputation that will follow its appearance ■as a working proposition. Indeed, whatever were- tho contents of the measure it is dear that weeks would be required to pass any Land Bill through the House. But placing this vexed question aside the condi tion of tho public business now on the Order Paper is such'that with reasonable application to tho labour before them members should he ahle to_ dispose of it within the next fortnight. The important Lands for Settlement Administration Bill and the State Guaranteed Advances Bill have practically been disposed of and now only, await third readings. The- Death Duties Bill passed through the Lower House last night and will henceforth cease from troubling. The Naval Defence Bill advanced to its second reading, and,, while its provisions offer great inducement to speech, the course of the Bill, after its principle has been affirmed, should not cause much delay. There remain to bo dealt with, among other proposals, tho Defence. Bill, (now before a special committee), the "Workers Compensation for Accident* Amendment, and the Bills for amendment of the Coal Mines Alot and the Arbitration Act. The General Estimates, the Public Works Estimates, the repo«s of, the Timber and Police Commissions, ■ have still to reoeive attention. This is not a formidable programme, and it is quite possible to master it before, the holiday \season. The great obstacle to progress will, of course, be the' prolixity of the Opposition, and if Mr Massey and his henchmen continue to talk_ as copiously as they v have been doing lately members will be back after New Year and have the pleasure of spending midsummer in Wellington. In that case the Land Bill could be proceeded with: However, should the business awaiting disposal ; ,be dealt with by. Christmas. ..we- -understand that" there'is a probability of the Land Bill being held over and proceeded with at an earlier session than; usual next year, the' current session thus coming to a conclusion. Under all the. edrcunrstances this seems .a, reasonable suggestion, and ther-e is no insuperable reason why*it should not be darried -into effect. Unhappily the proceedings in the House last night wore not of a character to engender much hope that t % e detail of work to be done will meet with the careful attention it should receive. Hours were wasted on a futile, dreary discussion about the death duties, in which all the arguments of the past few weeks were rehashed for the benefit of the ''Hansard" reporters and the strangers in the -galleries. Time which could have been profitably spent at legitimate business! was passed by in N listless -inattention to an ineffective, dismal reiteration 'of what had been said a dozen times, before. If this is repeated during the week —as apparently it will be—the result roust bo a hastening of the pace in tho succeeding week, all night sittings, Bills passed by sleepy members, and plaintive wails from the Opposition about exhaustion . and "legislation forced, through the House."