THE SESSION

Southland Times, Issue 22464, 29 October 1934, Page 5

THE SESSION

APPROACHING THE END SITTINGS HOURS GROW LONGER “WASHING-UP” MEASURES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 27. Although it seems unlikely that the Government will be able to bring the session to the proposed adjournment by the end of next week, good progress has been made during the past week. The first of the “Washing-Up” Bills were introduced early in the week and the Supplementary Estimates were presented, but a certain amount of delay occurred before the dairy legislation could be presented. When the Bill was introduced members made it clear that there was no unanimous desire for a speedy passage of the measure and consequently the closing date will probably be set back by some days. The remaining items of the Public Works Estimates were disposed of on Tuesday and good progress was made with some of the minor Government Bills. The introduction of the Finance Bill (No. 3) with its proposal to raise loan money for developmental _ work gave members something ,to discuss, but progress was not impeded until the dairy legislation appeared. A fair amount of progress was made _on Thursday when the first all night sitting of the session was held. Labour members had a great deal to say about unemployment when the Unemployment Amendment Bill was before the House, and also discussed the proposal to borrow money when the second reading of the Finance Bill was taken The reception the various stages oi the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill are likely to receive was indicated when the Bill was introduced, members making long speeches on the very first stages. The second reading of the Bill will be taken on Tuesday and there is a long sitting in prospect as a consequence. A large number of members have made it quite clear that they will not help the Government to rush the legislation through, and any attempt to force progress will be met with strong opposition. The Supplementary Estimates gave the Labour Party another opportunity to oppose the proposed auxiliary police force, the whole of Friday morning being occupied with a debate on that topic. The arguments used during earlier debates on the same subject were reiterated and the debate grew stormy on occasions, but the police vote was passed. Reports of Commissions. The present session has been remarkable for the number of important reports brought down by commissions and one report—that of the Native Affairs Commissions —has yet to be presented. Just how much time will be devoted to the consideration of these reports it is difficult to say, but members will be anxious to express their views and thej- may not be in favour of holding them over until the session is resumed.

As the work in hand has definitely delayed the departure of the Ministerial delegation to Australia the Government is not as anxious to finish off the work in hand as it was a week ago. Consequently it is possible that some more Bills may be introduced before the adjournment is taken. Some of the Bills at present on the order paper will be passed but a large number will be left over for consideration when the session is resumed. As is the case at the end of every session some of the Bills will be sacrificed no matter how long the session continues. Of the Bills on the order paper about six should be finished and others may be attempted, but the prospect of lost time on such measures as the Police Offences Amendment Bill and the War Regulations Repeal Bill will probably lead to them being relegated to the bottom end of the agenda. There are a number of Bills apart front the Government measures but there is little likelihood of these being taken this year unless unexpected progress is made.