THE SESSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11685, 29 April 1916, Page 9

THE SESSION.

~+— - , LEADERS' ARRANGEfSENTS. y PRTME MINISTER AND SIR-JQSEPEj / WARD TO REMAIN. (Special to the "Star.") '' WELLINGTON, February 28.' .-'' Cabinet sits regularly every day-at J, present, preparing for the session taj ' open on Tuesday week. Ministers hav»J alreadv prophesied that it will not Be* a long one. but such predictions arff usually received with scepticism by tli« "old hands" of the House, who know - -how hard it is to drive Parliament However, the National Government nalHd» its best to get the session over m early ia August as possible, ana ~4s that end the legislative programme* ;• being cut down to the smallest "oats.. War measures will have first place, ado? , few other matters will be touched. s£\ ! One of the most interesting problem/ facing tile Prime Minister, that of ajf-j pointing an Acting-Premier during lju>j adbsence in London with the Minister of; Finance, Sir Joseph Ward, has been* shelved for the present, an important change of the programme having bee»-y decided on. Both leaders have defelV. mined to remain in New Zealand while - Parliament is sitting, and to leave; for, . England when the session ends." ',.,-£ i> This decisqn will do away. with, 's£\~ most difficult part of the proKpnPpi' the Acting-Prime Minister, which- - "htfs; • given cause for much perturbation; "TBej Minister of Defence might be regarded! as the natural choice, but the Hon J James Allen is not the happy possessor!; of that easy manner which helps;,* leader through trying positions ifl^ v a democratic assembly. It is well known that he was not on the best of> terms, with the members of his own party iMfiL the war pxit an end to rancour. £&e Miiuster's capacity for hard worjtois freely admitted, but as a leader of njen. lie would, it is thought, give hi? friends 1 and well-wishers some anxiety. - "The, alternative suggested was Fraser, who is not keen to take "Aplheavy responsibility, even for. a. hrifeK* period. He would probably find;^ 1 duties-of leader of the House tW &■£)»'•• ing. though his reputation as f«M>! minded critic when he was ia opposjTj tion would help him greatly with Midsection of the House. . 'i-f'l If the acting position has not to'.ts filled until the session is safely eygr there is less difficulty about the cho{Re,i i hence the leaders' decision to through." ' ,: ~ ~