THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 28 June 1920, Page 6

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

TWO DAYS OF BUSTLE. (Special to the “ Star.”) "WELLINGTON - , June 2G. There has not been a. week of Parliament as jet, hut the two sitting (lavs have been full of bustle, if not of work. On Thursday his Excellency the Governor-General was not present, and nothing was done beyond electing the Speaker. Apart from tho Reform majority assuring his return, Sir Frederick Lang was certain to be the choice of members. Mr Hitt explained rather sadly that, in view of the depleted ranks of his own party, it was a satisfaction to find that on this subject they could agree with tho Government. On the second day the GovernorGeneral was present m person to explain, as he stated in his commission, the reasons for his summoning this session of Parliament. The most geuoial comment upon the “reasons” as given, in the Speech from the Throne was that the Government was short ot money and' could not do a tithe of tho things that it was being asked The only outstanding incident in the i was provided by Air id Gombs, who entered the Legislative Gouneil Chamber last, mid could find no vacant, seat cxceot in the front row with the Ministers. Mr M'Combs evidently did not want to take it. In the House afterwards there was the usual flood of questions, petitions and notices of motion. Tho private members’ Bills wore very numerous, even for tho first sitting day, and tho now members, especially from the Labour ranks, contributed their full share. Many of the Bjjls have reference, to industrial questions. The noconlidence amendment of the leader of the Opposition came as a suronse oven to some of the members of his own •, Labour was probably disappointed at not being first with this motion, lmt_ the party may yet secure first division on the Imprest Supply Mi; Statham has said little about liis posiuon, but be made no secret of Ids independence on the first sitting clay wJie.ii ho took a scat on tho back Oiipobftiti.a benches. His amendment, therefore, caused no surprise, though (u was not expected. iomarkablo feature of tho second day s sitting was the smallness of the number of questions without notice. Gast session these were so numerous as to cause some delay in dealing with the business of the House. The tone ot Ministerial replies to the questions asked was an indication that Ministers are not inclined to encourage the same sort ot thing this session.'' Questions without notice are supposed, to lie onlyon urgent matters, but it would have )een very hard to discover tho urgency of some of tho questions asked last session.