PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 17793, 24 July 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES

DURATION OF SESSION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) v WELLINGTON, July 23. The delay in the business of Parliament during the present fortnight, occasioned by the illness of the Prime Minister has had the effect of prolonging the session to some extent. At the end of last week it was realised that it was no longer practicable to close by the end of the coming week, consequently the House, on rising yesterday morning, adjourned till Tuesday instead of to-mor-row. It is now anticipated that the session will last at least a further fortnight. The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence are recovering from their attacks of influenza, Sir Joseph Ward, who has been laid aside with a second attack of the same complaint, Is still confined to his room. EARLY CLOSING. The result of the attempt to secure the early closing of hotels during the remainder of the war is still in doubt. Opponents of six o’clock closing have from the outset claimed a majority, and they assert that they are still sure of a majority of least four, and possibly six. The possibility of a compromise in the form of eight or nine o’clock closing is still spoken of. I