SESSION’S BUSINESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8857, 7 October 1914, Page 4

SESSION’S BUSINESS

AVALANCHE OF BILLS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SECOND BALLOT. Five bills were introduced into the House of Representatives, yesterday afternoon by Governor's message. They were: A bill to encourage thf breeding of horses suitable for mili* tary purposes; Workers’ Dwelling* Amendment Bill; a bill to encourage the manufacture in New Zealand- of iron and steel; a bill for the bette*provision for the education of tha people of New Zealand; and a hill lot the provision of shipping to the Cool* Islands. After four of the hills had been in* troduoed, Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said that in view of the avalanche ol bills coming down, he would like t« ask the Prime Minister how many more he proposed to introduce. Ther© was already a huge order-paper, and members had been working hard to got the business of the session 'through. There were twenty-one hills already set down for consideration, and thosa introduced in various ways to-day brought the total up to about thirty. The Opposition were as anxious ns the Ministers to get on with the business of the country—(Government laugh*-ter)—-but they wanted it to be doiia properly. It was quite impossible toi deal with all this bulk of business in twenty-five days, if the bills were to receive reasonable consideration. The Government ought to go through the order-paper and point out.' the bills which it' wanted to go through. At present they were merely beating the air. Ono night the House would work hard to get certain bills forward,, and next day it simply found that another hatch of hills had been brought down. He suggested- that the Prime Minister should indulge in a “slaughter .of the innocents,’.’ by knocking out those which had no chance this session. This would give heart to members on both sides of. the House,, If - over there was legislation by exhaustion and driving, it was thi» session. (Government laughter.) Tha House was now getting into such » condition that if legislation were to ba got through, it would have to bff driven as it never had been before. Some of the hills now on the orderpaper, if they were to bo discussed properly, would ' take days and days. The Education Bill, for could - not b© got through in less than' a week. The Prime Minister could offer a clearance of th© order-paper with considerable advantage. “THE REFORM ERROR.”

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W, P Massey): "It is quite evident that tho hen. member haa forgotten tho state of things before tho Reform era.” , ■

Mr IT. Atmoro (Nelson)i ‘‘The ‘rtoform’ error?’’ (Opposition laughter.) Mr Massey said that there were twenty bills on the order paper, and there had been introduced four more*, making, a total'of twenty-four. Mr Russell: “ And iwb more introduced by yourself earlier in the day make twenty-six,”

Mr Massey: “Very, well; I will oblige the bon. member by making it twenty-six. Does bo know the number of bills that were brought down after October 13th three years ago?” Mr Bussell; ‘'.Nineteen-”

Mr Massey said that more bills had been introduced after October 13 th that year than were now on tho order paper altogether. The Opposition could, not get away from this. Ho would look up the Journal* and have tha exact number placed on record.; He «as quite sure that his statement was correct. Anyone who looked at the. bills now introduced could see that they , were non-contentious. Hon. members would agree that the Education Bill was one which should be pu* on the statute book, and therefore it. was non-contentioufi. An hon. member: “There are.many subjects for discussion in it.” ' Sir Massey: "L do not .say that there is no need for disousaion, but it should not taka more than two, days. Then there is the Legislative Council Bill. That is not a contentious sure.” . ~ Opposition members; i£s, it is. Mr Massey.: '“Why, two years age the House confirmed the principle of tho bill by a vote of two to one.” NOT THE PRESENT BILL. An hon. member: “ But not this bill.” Mr Massey: "The House confirmed tho principle of the bill—election of the council by proportional representation-” There were still one or two other hills to come down this session, although bo could not yet say exactly what they would be. However, there would he a Legislature Bill—purely a. machinery measure dealing with tha holding, of elections—and a short Nw tive Bill. ’ Mr Russell: “Do you propose to restore the second ballot again r (Loud Government laughter,) Mr Massey: “ Decidedly not. We have got rid of something which was absolutely a disgrace to civilisation,, and I venture to say it will never be, seen on the statute book of New Zealand again. Those who abolished the second ballot deserve the thanks of tha whole community,” Mr Russell: ‘Are you going to pro* vide a substitute P” - Mr Massey: “No; I shall when I find something better.” Mr O. Forbes (Hurumn): “ Are you looking for it?" ' Mr Massey said that there was not the slightest reason why they should not give all the bills the consideration due to them, and still finish the business of the session well within the present month.