THE SESSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15885, 3 October 1913, Page 3

THE SESSION.

' PROGRESS OF THE WORK. MEASURES BEFORE THE HOUSE. (Fbom Ocb Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON,. October 2. The House of Representatives this week has been in a fairly reasonable working huniour and has made some progress with Government measures. The factors contributing to the despatch of business are that there have been no Opposition canards of note to provoke discussion, as the field day upon the Royd Garlick report last week had a considerable influence in clearing the air. During this week also Mr Wilford has been abssnt from 'an unfortunate cause— namely, an accident to his foot—and consequently the spur .to the loquacity of the House frequently applied by him has not been felt. With the absence of important reports and minor subjects the House has been able largely to concentrate upon regular measures.. The biggest work of the week has been the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill, whjch has passed through the second reading and oommittee stages, and was being debated on the third reading this' evening.- This Bill authorises the Government to raise "£1,750,000 by way of a loan for development purposes. The Opposition fastened upon this proposal in an endeavour to establish a charge of inconsistency against the Government. With the production of many Hansards and multitudinous quotations they referred to the criticism of the . present Government when in Opposition to excessive borrowing,- and asked why when now in power they still borrowed, in spite .of former protestations. At all its stages this criticism was levelled against the-measure, and this evening enabled the Opposition to occupy many hours somewhat fruitlessly. Another big measure to the credit of the week is the Police Force Bill, which completed its committee stages to-day. Some good work was done on this Bill, which ranks as one of the largest Government measures passed so far. The Land Bill is regarded as a certainty for a prominent place on the ■ order paper to-morrow, so that the. Legislative record of the week will probably be one of the most creditable of the session up to date.