THE SESSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11763, 29 July 1916, Page 6

THE SESSION.

THE APFROACHING CLOSE.

(Special to tho "Star.'*) WELLINGTON, July 28. Ministers are speaking qmite unreservedly to-day of their hope to bring the session to a close by the end of next week. This can- be accomplished only by hard driving and late sittings, but'the majority of the members of the House are not anxious to prolong their stay in Wellington, and probably the Government will get its way without any serious difficulty. • The session has been a peculiarly disappointing one from the private member's' point of view. His Bills have got no farther than a hopeless place on the Order Paper, and . his notices of motion have remained merematters of print. Ho has been allowed to ask questions and to get replies —when Ministers pleased; but he has never been encouraged to speak, except when the' Government wished to fill up a cap. The war has. thrown its shadow over tho whole session and everything that really mattered has been settled in Cabinet before it reached the House. If the Constitution had permitted of such an arrangement the private members just as well might have stopped at home and transmitted his vote by telegraph whenever it was required. Tho " Washing-up Bill." with its hundred odd clauses, wliich was mentioned in. the Houso last night, _by way of what is called its first reading, may provoke members into an assertion of their rights and privileges, and possibly into a recognition of thoir responsibilities; but it is more likely they will maintain their attitude of reluctant submission take what remains for their nominal approval as a matter of course. Patriotism and loyalty, admirable qualities as they always are, expressed in this fashion add little to the significance or dignity of Parliament. Still they aro about all the private member can contribute to the counsels of the nation in time of war.