THE SESSION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12526, 16 August 1926, Page 7

THE SESSION

A VERY BUSY WEEK AHEAD OF LEGISLATORS POLICY MEASURES PENDING HELioiOUS EXERCISES BILL DOOMED; LICENSING LEGISLAtioN The coming week should be a very busy one in Parliament. The promised debate on the Railway Statement is scheduled for Tuesday, and there is a possibility of the Prime Minister .making a statement about the date of his departure for the Imperial Conference, if not on Tuesday, at least early in the week. Two, if not three, of the Government’s policy bills are due during the week. Among et them will be the Family Allowance Bill, which was one of the most important policy measures promised by the Prime Minister during the last election campaign.

Two, if not three, of the Government's policy Bills are due during the week. Amongst them will be the Family Allowances Bill, which was one of the most important policy measures promised by the Prime Minister during the last election campaign. It is understood that during the week-end the report of tile Rural Credits Commission was further considered by Cabinet, and if it is deemed advisable to legislate this session a Bill making the necessary provision for a scheme will be introduced. In this connection there is also the possibility of a Bank of New Zealand Bill containing the proposals outlined by the chairman of directors at the last meeting of shareholders. It will be interesting to know what the Government decided, and we may hear this before the week passes. Monday sittings after this week will assist materially in the passing of legislation that is deemed of importance, and August 30th may see the decks sufficiently cleared to enable the Prime Minister to leave Auckland for England in the Niagara on the 31st.

Mr Isittjs Religious Exercises Bill continues to be debated—at times with

considerable heat—iu ii.e legislative Council. The galleries of the Council which are seldom visited by the public have been at times almost crowded, and much attention has been paid to the proceedings, especially by women interested in the subject. The Bill almost received its death blow on Friday night. Two of Mr Isitt’s supporters wero absent, and a straight-out division on the third reading would have given a maority of one against the measure. Mr Isitt, however, hurried out of the Chamber and persuaded a southern member opposed to the measure to vote with him for the adjournment of the debate. The division on this resulted in a tie, and the Speaker, according to custom gave his vote for the continuance of the debate on another day. Since then the South Island member has been having rather a bad time of it in his own camp. Some members of the Upper House still say the Bill will be throrvii out there, but in any case there is little likelihood of its passing through the House of Representatives this session, and discussion on it there will be regarded only as waste of time. A Licensing Bill is expected this week or next week, but whatever the nature of the measure it is unlikely it will go through this session.