PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17974, 29 June 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

TO-DAY'S BUSINESS.

A NEW PARTY MOVEMENT.

(Fbou Ook Own Coehespondent.)

WELLINGTON, Juno 23. t , e p roa -t majority of members have returned to tlioir liomes for the week-end, and I arbamentary buildings havo been unusually quiet. To-morrow the session will commence in earnest. The first Imprest supply Bill will bo introduced, and, as is usual, put through all its stages at one sitting. Hie 'Address-in-Reply debato will commence on Wednesday, and as there are two no-confidonce amendments to -be disposed of, it is probable that it will occupy several days of Parliament's time, even although the residt is already a foregone conclusion from the political noint of view. It is generally admitted inside Parliament thiit Mr Mac Donald is quite the right tiling from-'a party point of viow in moving a vote of no-conficlonco in the Government, but tho man in the street, who takes little interest in the political game, regards it as a waste of valuable time, that could more profitably bo devoted- to the serious work that lies ahead.

Ihere is a movement among the independents to form a party of their own, in which case they will be no longer Independents. The new party will be a mixture ol i Liberal and Labour Independents -It «t>'j ?, f r^ nise > tho so-called .Keels. There will Ma>us bo four parties m the House: tho Reform Party, tho Liberals, the Labour Party pure and simple, Mid the Independent Liberal and Labour -fart-y. Mr Massey, of course, lias an assured majority over the whole lot' of

So far aa the work of the session cont s crned > Mr Massey informs me that he intends to kecr> early hours unless, of course, there is deliberate obstruction, in which case members will have to put up with much longer sittings. It seems, however, to be generally recognised that the country wants work, and not talk, and talking members aro not likely to be very popular in the constituencies.