HOW LONG?

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19155, 11 November 1927, Page 8

HOW LONG?

WORK OF SESSION. MR COATES NON-COMMITTAL. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November 10. T l, e two most important matters before Parliament at present are the licensing and arbitration questions, and these, according to a statement made bv the Prime Minister to-day, will be'fully discussed by the House before the session ends. Mr Coares was non-committal when asked when lie thought the session would close. The Prime Minister's statement was made when he was replying to Mr Fra«er (Wellington Central), who sought an assurance that the Government would take steps at each sitting to let members know how far it was proposed to proceed with items on the Order Paper. "It was not my intention " said the Prime Minister, "to put the Motor Spirit Taxation Bill through Committee last night. The passage of the short title seemed a pert'eetlv reasonable thing to ask for, after we had spent long hours on a very.'useful and very full second reading discussion. "When do you expect the session to end?" queried Mr Forbes. The Prime Minister: When we have finished all the business. (Laughter.) Mr Howard: What is the business? Is it all on the Order Paper? The Prime Minister: Some of it is on the Order Paper, but all of the items on the Order Paper will not be proceeded with. "The rest is in the Prime Minister's head?" suggested Mr Sullivan. The Prime Minister: No; it must be understood that the Crown Law Drafting Office is pressed from the very day Parliament commences. It is pressed after the vacation at Christmas. The Government hands over, roughly speaking, its programme of Bills, and the office proceeds to work hard. There is no fault to find with the Crown Law Drafting Office. Only one man can be responsible for the wording of Acts—the Crown Law draftsman —and I have been very pleased with the work he lias clone. He cannot get the work out faster than he is doing it now." A member: What other Bills have to come down?

The Prime Minister replied that the only Bills outstanding of any moment were a Railways Bill, a Public Service Bill, and a few more clauses in connexion with the Lands Adjustment Bill. "We have to deal with the licensing question, and with the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill also, when it conies back from the Labour Bills Committee. There may be one or two smaller measures of local interest, and these may include an Insurance Companies Amendment Bill." Mr Atmore: Do you intend to put the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill through?

The Prime Minister: It must be discussed when it comes back from the Committee.

Sir Joseph Ward: How mauy days will be devoted to the consideration of 'the Licensing Bill 1 ?

"Until the House is satisfied that it has done all it can do," replied the Prime Minister.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the representations ho had received were very varied.

The Prime Minister: I have received quite a number of satisfactory intimations from members of the House, and I can only interpret these as indicating a feeling of appreciation of the efforts of the member who introduced the Bill. (Laughter.) What the people outside think I cannot say.

Mr McCombs: Will we be able to adjourn to go home for Christmas and come back if necessary? (Laughter.) "Oh, we will come back if it is necessary," replied the Prime Minister. amidst further laughter.