FUTURE LEGISLATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 196, 23 September 1914, Page 11

FUTURE LEGISLATION.

THE SESSION'S PROGRAMME. OUTLINED BY MR MASSEY. , MANY MEASURES TO COME. [From our own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 22.. _ At the conclusion of the "discussion in the House this afternoon on the Government's decision to proceed with the elections this year, the Prime Minister was plied with questions as to the business which the Government :intended to take during the remainder of the session. The opportunity arose when Mr Massey moved: "That on and after Wednesday next, September 23, for the remainder of the session, Government business take precedence on Wednesdays. '' Wednesdays, it may be explained, is set apart during the early part of each session for private members' business.

Sir Joseph Ward urged that it would be a fair thing for the Prime Minister to tell the House and the country whas business he intended to go on with. "In the Canadian, New South Wales, Britand Commonwealth. Parliaments no party business was being brought forward. Did the Prime Minister intend to prolong this session by going on wiUi a great deal of party legislation? Since early in August the Opposition had abandoned criticism, and he thought it. only fair to tell the country what was going to come on. . Mr Massey: What do you call "party business"?

I Sir Joseph Ward: Policy measures. Mr Massey: The Loan Bill is a policy measure. Sir .Joseph Ward: This side of the House has said before that it will assist the Government to facilitate matters of finance. __ He went on to say that if the House were kept till the end .of October, that left, five Weejks for members' to get round their' constituencies, aiid they should give every member a chance to get round the ingest . electorate. His opinion was that the Prime Minister should get his fin-, .ance through and. bring Parliament 'to" a close in a week.; Hon. Mr Fraser: Can't be done.

Sir Joseph Ward: Then the Government must intend to bring in, party measures. . '

Hon. Mr Fraser: No. The Public Works Estimates couldn't be printed in that time."

Sir Joseph Ward: I thought the printing office could do anything. (Laughter.) He thought, fcoweyer; that the Government should follow the example of Canada and other countries and get rid of party business. Mr A.-H. Hindmarsh (Wellington South) asked if the Prime Minister intended to give him the opportunity of getting the third reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (bringing club employees under the Act, whieh passed ;the committee stage last week).

The Prime Minister said it would be unfair to shut : out any Bill which had reached the third reading stage. There were two such measures-—the Trades Union Bill (Mr McCombs) and Mr Hindmarsh's Bill, and the House would be given an opportunity of dealing with them. Regarding the business of the session, he would be ready .'to make a statement to the House within a week or ten : days.

Opposition Members: Oh! Others: The session will be over by then.

Mr Massey: The session cannot possibly be concluded within a fortnight. There was the Education Bill, and the members of the Education Committee had worked very hard getting "the measure into order, and no one should suggest'that' this should be dropped. Mr Hanan (and others): No! Mr Massey said that the chances were that the Education Bill itself would take several days before the House. Then for three years 'they had had the Legislative Council Bill before Parliament.

Sir Joseph Ward: You can easily drop that.

Mr Ell: It is the. most party measure there is. ,"'..-

Mr Massey: I don't know whether it is. There are members on the Opposition side who support the: Government proposals in this direction. Sir Joseph Ward,: Not amongst, the Liberals.

Mr Massey: Well, this side 'aye: the Liberals. (Loud Opposition jeer's.):"No one could suggest that they should drop the Local Grants and Subsidies Bill, for every member was agreed that the present system of grants wanted improving. There were other important:measures, too, and it was easily seen that the time had come when the Government should take Wednesdays for Government business.

The motion was agreed to on the voices.