END OF THE SESSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18467, 31 January 1922, Page 6

END OF THE SESSION

PRIME MINISTER'S ESTIMATE. MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK . (Fbou Ovb Own Correspondent.) ‘ WELLINGTON, January 30. The Prime Minister told the members of the House of Rspxesentatives to-day that ho expected to see the work of the session completed before the middle of next week. He said that there were still some Bills to be brought down, but he did not. think that they were contentious, or very important. .Hie Bills on the Order Paper included the Animals’ Protection Bill, the Legitimation Amendment Bill, the Housing Amendment Bill, the Discharged Soldiers’ oettlement Bill, the Loan Companies’ Bill, the Government Railways Amendment Bill, the Arms Amendment Bill, the Hospitals and Charitable institutions Amendment Bill, and the Tramways Amendment Bill. The House would b© asked to deal with these Bills, which stood at various stages. The Bill dealing with the meat pool scheme would come down. He added, “It would be a short Bill.” The “Washing Up” Bill, already introduced, was in the hands of a committee, and was almost ready to return to the House. He was preparing a Finance Bill.i which consisted mainly of machinery clauses, and was not at all contentious. The Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill was before a committee. Applications were reaching him from all parte of the country for legislation of one sort and another, but it was not possible" for him to deal with all these requests. ‘T believe we could sit all the , year round and find work to do,” said the Prime Minister. “but I don’t think it would be for the benefit of the country.' I don’t think it is good for the country to have too much legislation passed through Parliament.” He added that the Bills he had mentioned could be passed, he thought, in a week. This time should cover also the Appropriation Bill, and the Supplementary Estimates. He believed that members would be pleased with the size of the Supplementary Estimates. He did not expect to complete the work this Week, but with a reasonable amount of debate, members should bo able to finish the session on the following Monday or Tuesday. The Prime Minister added that he proposed to ask tbo House to commence morning, sittings on Wednesday.