THE COMING SESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18784, 18 May 1923, Page 4

THE COMING SESSION

PROBABLE DATE OF OPENING. MR. GUTHRIE'S ILLNESS. The date of the opening of thfi next session of Parliament has not yet been definitely fixed, but the Prime Minister has indicated that It, would be very close to June 15, which is a Friday. Mr. Massey is not prepared at present to make any further statement about the represtation of New Zealand at the Imperial Conference. Parliament, he says, must decide. If Mr. Massey should leave New Zealand at the beginning of September, Parliament will be by that time have been in session just a little less than three months. This period, the Prime Minister thinks, would suffice for the passage of much important legislation. Many bills it is understood are now ready for submission to the House. The Minister of Lands and Railways (Mr. Guthrie) is still in the hospital, and it seems very problematical whether he will be able to take any part at all in the work ot the session. He has been advised to make a trip to the Pacific Island in. the month of June. At present tha portfolio of Lands is in the hands ot Sir Francis Bell, who is a member ot the Upper House. The Prime Minister has not yet indicated whether there will be any rearrangement ot portfolios, nor has he given any hi at of how soon a Minister will be appointed to take the place of the Hon. E. P. Lee.

Apropos of appointments it may recalled that one of the duties of Parliament during the coming session will be to elect a chairman of committees. The office was left vacant last session, as the House did not meet for the purpose of passdng legislation, but merely for the purpose of testing the strength ot the parties.