END OF THE SESSION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15748, 13 February 1922, Page 9

END OF THE SESSION.

OPINIONS OF THE LEADERS. Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON, last night. After the business hnd been completed, the Premier rose, in the House on Saturday night, and said that before moving the adjournment "of tlic House he desired to sav something with regard to the work of the session. “We have,’’ he said, “come to t.lie end of a long and strenuous sessions We have passed another milestone on the legislative highway. ’’ He thanked Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of Committees, and officers of the House for their work. This had been a working session. They had overtaken much of thi> arrears of work which had accumulated since the armistice. No more important legislation had ever been passed than that which they put through this week. But lie was sure it. would lie useful. Air. Wil ford said that the legislation passed was of an advanced character. How some of it might turn out, no man could tell, hut he hoped that it would prove to the benefit of the countiv.

Mr. Holland, on behalf of the Labor Baity, said that though the lines between Labor and the other parties had been drawn most clearly in the House, lie was pleased to note that the proceedings compared more than favorably with any other Parliament in the Empire. . The Speaker, Sir A. Lang, and the Chairman of Committees, Air. Malcolm, briefly returned thanks, and the Prime Minister moved- the adjournment, which was carried on a division by 1!) to 14.

During the session just closed the House sat on Ho days. Sittings before midnight occupied 510 hours 1(5 minutes, and after midnight 55 hours 15 minutes—a daily average of 7 hours 27 minutes. Eight-nine public Bills received tlie Royal assent, and forty-one were dropped or otherwise disposed of. In tin 1 whole House there were tuntyono divisions and in committee 1-b‘k Two hundred and ninety petitions w ove presented from Europeans and 77 from Maoris. Questions asked of Ministers totalled 532, and 370 papers wore laid upon the table.

CLOSING SCENES IN COUNCIL. The closing scenes in the- Legislative Council on Saturday night were marked by valedictory speeches with special reference to the leader. Sir F. Bell, who i.s shortly leaving on a. holiday visit to the Old Country. Many speakers paid glowing tributes to Sir F. Bell for his uprightness and honesty, great ability and devotion to the, people.