The Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1904. THE SESSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8120, 20 September 1904, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1904. THE SESSION.

Although Parliament has been sitting for less than three months, the question of the 'end of the session has already been raised. Last year, it will be remembered, the session lasted until November' 24. Although it is early yet to express a decided opinion regarding the duration of the present session, it is safe to predict that it will not last as long as its predecessor did. Already signs of weariness are manifesting them- r selves among the members, and we do not think we shall be doing most of them aa injustice when we say that they will be relieved jwhen the end comes. But although the end will not be so long delayed as ;\yas the case last year, it will not come ju^'yet. The last week of October has been assigned for it by certain Parliamentary onlookers, amd, however much the Premier may desire to shorten the session we cannot see how he can decently call for an adjournment before that date. Even then the session will have lasted barely four months, which is rather less than the average duration of Parliamentary sessions in New Zealand. Supposing this prediction proves to be correct, and th*at the -session closes at the end of next month, fhe inter-, vening period must of necessity be an extremely busy one. For although members have. not been idle . during the last three months, and, indeed, during the early part of the session exhibited more than the customary amount of activity, the business of the session is. no further advanced" now than it was at a corresponding stage of last year. Moreover, a £reat deal of solid work remains to bo done. True, when once the Licensing Bill is disposed of, few items j of a really contentious nature will be left ; on the Order Paper ; but after making allowances for this fact, there remains sufficient matter ta keep members actively employed for many weeks into November. If the Houses are to adjourn at the end of next month it is clear that the " innocents/ will have to be slaughtered relentlessly, and that certain Bills which do not come within this category will be called upon to suffer a like fate. Among the Bills which will .be proceeded with we may safely include the Electoral, the High Commissioner, the Local Elections, and possibly the Shops and Offices, the Fire Brigades, the Trades Monopolies, the Referendum and a few minor Bills. How many of these are destined to find their way into the Statute Book straightway depends entirely on the length ' of the session. But when it ig borne in mind that, in addition to the work which their consideration will entail, there -ar^ the remains of the Generol Estimates, as well as tihe Publio JVorks Estimates and various other annual matters to be dis. cussed, it will be recognised- that \l the session is to end before November *amething wil Stave to go.