THE STANDING ORDERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19249, 13 August 1924, Page 6

THE STANDING ORDERS.

HOW TIME IS WASTED. AMENDMENT NECESSARY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 12. A good deal of time was wasted in the House this afternoon by members talking on the formal introduction of Government Bills. The practice is one that has prevailed for several years. Members rise and ask for details of a Bill, that is if they have the energy or the inclination. Mr Massey to-day during a discussion on a point of order by a Labour member whether private members’ Bills should take precedence of. an interrupted debate on a Government Bill* stated that when the Standing Order was framed it was not intended that there should ibe any discussion on the introduction of a Bill, and an error had been made in framing this particular Standing Order. The proper time for the discussion was on the second reading of the Bill, and if that were agreed to it would prevent the waste of time that sometimes took place in discussing a Bill before members had the Bill before them.

The question will no doubt bo settled by the committee that has been set up to deal with the Standing Orders this session.