DOWN TO WORK.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7921, 21 August 1917, Page 3

DOWN TO WORK.

THE REAL BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. (Special to “Mail"); WELLINGTON, This day. It is expected that the debate on the Financial Statement will occupy the greater part of this week, after which the real business of the session will commence. This debate, together with the debate on the Address-in-Reply, has given the Government breathing time, and enabled Ministers to prepare the proposed Government legislation, which had to be held back until the return of the Prime Minister and Sir Jcfeeph Ward to the Dominion.

One of the first Government bills to be dealt with will be that embodying the taxation proposals, and it is bound to give rise to a considerable amount of discussion, especially from the Labor section, who are not convinced that the Minister’s proposals are sufficiently drastic. The bill which proposes to limit the hours during which hotels may be open will also be keenly debated. The “six o'dockers" will make a big fight to gain their objective, but there will be strong opposition, and the suggested compromise of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. will probably be accepted by the House.

Considerable ihterest attaches to the proposed legislation dealing with increases in pensions. .This applies both to military and old-age pensions. An increase in the latter is necessary by reason of the fact that the cost of living has made it practically impossible for those in receipt of the oldage pension to live on the present allowance.