WORK OF SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 689, 14 December 1909, Page 8

WORK OF SESSION.

'« ( i * * ♦ 1 {opposition to morning sittings. •* s —— ; PROTESTS AGAINST FINAL RUSH. ■ j WILL THE HOUSE SIT AFTER CHRISTMAS? A prolonged discussion took place yesterday ; afternoon in tlio /House of Kopresontatives, ~ when the Prime Minister moved, according to EotlCC. „ "That on and after Tuesday, the Htli instant, tho House for the remainder of tho session do sit doily, from 10 α-m. until ; rising, fir tlio conduct of business, Government business to take jjrtcedence" - "I'think members will soo tho propuety of what is proposed," sa«l Sir Joseph Ward • Mr. Massey said he did not see the propriety of it If this motion were passed, local Bills, ' whioh now had preference on Saturday mornn rags, woull ha\o to give place to Government business. An assurance should be given that ; mombors nould receive an , opportunity of putting through their local Bills in a proper and Tfiasooablo mannor, without their being rushed Agatn, if the motion wero passed, it meant patting an end to all committee work for the nst of tlio session. There was some iery im f portant "business before the committees at the Lesont time The Public Accounts Committee 4 been called together ( for the following - morning to deal with a -very Important ques toon, but it would bo lmpobSiblo for the torn- \ initteo to meet if the motion were agreed to ihen there »at members' correspondence, and the business, arising out of it, to consider Tho House should not agree to the Prime Minister's proposal The whole difficulty in which they found themselves, was duo to tho unfortunate po-tpononient of tho session Whether they ; held a two months' or a hvo months' session, tho hrst six weeks weio ilnays taken up with tehat might be called preliminarj bnsmess That meant that in a ten weeks' session only ' four weeks were left for tho business proper i of the session "What was bang attempted now . to rush through in four weeks business that ought to taKo and he considered that it was impossible to do it Tho Prime Minister should tell the House what business , lie intended to put through. Two very im fortont Bills had been introduced that afternoon, and tho Nattvo Land Bill had been re ported from committee. These Bills by them- . selves wero more than enough to occupy tho • Hoiise,tni Christmas Position of Land Bill. /Then thcro was the Land Bill The Priirc Min&ter hid led the House and the country , w> believe that lie was going on with the Land ' "»{> which had now been considered by the committee He asked tho Pnme Minister what ;, he ,intended to do with that Bill? Did he mtoml to go on with it or to drop it? • Air Arnold Tl/cre ls'not sufficient hmo for < «• . Mr Massey said the Bill was introduced in the ordinary way, and the conntry expected tt ,to be proceeded with Sooner than see tho ; business rushed through a<! was proposed and . important business dropped, as was evidently intended in the case of the Land Bill, he • would be wiling to come back after Christmas ; Ine Opposition members had done everything .possible to assist the Government to get tho Land Bill through Parliament, and ho regftstted exceedingly any suggestion that it would be dropped. Ho was quite prepared to come-back after Christmas and finish tho i■, business properly 'without., so mncn hurrj To come b-icfc after Christmas would causo j Tery considerable inconvenience and loss to fanning members—far more loss than would : be met by a jear/s honorarium At the same t tune, he was willing to come back rather than \ nave the business mshefd through, as was pro- [ posed. If tho House sat from 10 am till 2, t «, and 4 a.m, m a temperature nsing some f timos to 85 dogrecs, there was a limit to j Imman endurance, and it wouTd not he long r j Lefore, the limit would bo reached m such t conditions—probably that was what the Prime i Minister wished—and members- would'then be i inllinj: to agree to anything to get out in the i i rcdi air. v ,, i., i t ,K r t i > \ > Legislation "try Mtmster/ ■> h Mr. Pearco (Patci) strongly pretested [ against the motion. He had just received J notice of a committee * meeting at Si.3oi a.m. i It was impossible iHo consider the country's ' business properly m Fnch conditions It was , unfair to the itew members, who had to give special considerition to the matters th-j-t came f lieforo them iHe was to come back after ,Christmas if necessary t {t r «aß in con ' sequence of their being misled in >the short ' r session' by the Pnme Minister's statement ' that (hoy could'get through the business bo- * fore Chnslmas that had led members into this .' position The House was already being ■ wrought into disropnto the people in ! by the manner in which, its business was being rushed j through Thoy would ;, not ba doing their duty if they did not come t ind. after Christmas to put through the Nal ti.Yc Land Bill find other important legishtion h If they worked'till Christmas it the hours proposed it would practically be legislation by rho Minister m charge of a Bill and tho law , draftsman * , '" Mi. Hemes ..(Tanrangaj urged that tho Prime Minister should say what business he ■wanted to pnt through. lie saw no possibility ; of transacting the business before Christmasr If mombers were to come back after Christmas ,( it was no use nishing the now Thoy ejiuld scarcely hold committee meetings while Jhe Houso was sitting, * since the committoo ■ - rooms were on the other side of the tube, and v members would bo nil the time running across to divisions N Ho thought that tho House should go on at a-iproprr rate with the bnsiiress, and ,if it { was 'not finished., como Vnci lifter Christmas. , Hon. T. Mackenzie in Reply. I Thc.Hon T Mackenzie raid that in Sir f Harry ; itkinson's time there was no time i limit -to speeches, yet in 1887 tho work was done hi 76 days, including Sundays In the followj,, Jng session the work was dono in 112 day Mr Homes Thoy had all their measures Joady ' „ Mr Mackenzie said "that tho measures .rcro C hot nearly so far advanced when tho House f Mot as they were thig session. What member* r did then was to settlo down and do tho business : In 1889 tho business took 88 days It appeared ■ ts if members had not the samo Inlsmeso capacity now . -Mr. Buick They want leaders , Mr Mackenzie said bo behovral the present ITouio contained more abihtj than anv Houso since 1887 The Government was never desirous of rushing business It was largely to suit , country members that the Ministry had desired to finish by Chiistmis, but if it did not suit thorn, tho Houso could reassemble Too uradi talking was dono by the members of oao -, eistiict 1 An Amendment Moved, > Mr Thomson (Duncdin North) mofed an ■ Wfiondmiint to tho Prime Minister's motion to ; provide that the House should riso not later than 12.35 a.m , ,Mr., Malcolm (Clntha) seconded tho amend- ; ■, eiunt. Mr. Eraser (VVakatipu) said his expcntoico rf morning sittings was »that they were , ROeplntely futile There mxe twelve Ministerial Bale, boides tho Esbmates, to deal with < until he know more about what rork ctDCctul to bo done boforo Chnstmas ho would not support the motion , Mr rhomeor (Wallace) urged; that tho amendment would not allow timo to effect much unl~» members would agree to « w.t c ,°, f t he)r elotmence ♦w h M^i r i m *East) denied , that Uio Wellington members had spoken un , t& «J° -iTW" -i v fi\cd ivnc for nranjr Hall (Waipawa).said ho did not believe the bnsine<!s would bo facilitated by morning githngs. They would only wear the House out, ; and give increased opportunity to the talka 1 nvenoss of certain members : J ,l ™ W L nsU < w , ellln e'on South) said that the ' Wellington mombers did not take up nearly ' «O HWch jpace in Hansard as the Chnstchrtrch F mombers Ho was against mormne sittings, I and ho was quite prepared to come back after i , Chnstmas if the business was not finished f Mr. Guthne (Oroua) spoko in opposition to I the motion, and emphasised tile importance of f tho committee work It was impossible to f overtake the work by Chnstmas, and the plam f duty of ihe 'House vtas to reassemble after r* Christmas if necessary. [ Mr. Massey's Views, ( |&. Massey said the Primo'l Minister had f r» tretfted tho Houso properly in neglecting ' say what business he inl«ndcd to put r , through On a previous occaswa a very senI ens mistake had been made during a late sitE, tang in dealing with tho Shops and Ofliccs [ Bdl That mistake almost cau.ied a revolu- [ bon If they conld not do the business dok cently and properly before Christmas they r (hooid come back, even if it caused some of ' them individual loss Ho asked tho Pnme , I Minister to say what business ho intended to '~ put through I r Tho amendraont was rejected by 45 rotes to i 28 -v i ■> t Mr Hardy (Sehryn) asked for an assurance 1 that members wonld bo given on opportune tg sut through than local Bills. , [' i,,_.

:VMr.,:James Allen asked the' Prime Minister ■to'sajXwhatßillsihe intended to. pass. : .'. , - bKr.. Joseph; :AV'ard: ; ;L. have ibeen,waiting; for an 'opportunity to speak all the aftornooh, but I have not had_ a chance yet. ' ./. Sir. Allen said measures had' been brought down, this- session which , were not urgent for feix months. v ;These. should be held over, and: the House should iuol be asked to keep hours ■ which it was - impossible" to keep if the work wasjtobe, dpne.prpperly..; -..: . _>':-. : ' .',;■■■ ■ ■' Mr: Buick (Palmerston) protested against tho Prime; Minister's proposal on.behalf of new. .niembers.,.The business' would have-been put; through •'long': before 'if the House had not' adjourned to enable the Prime Minister to go to England. ; ,' Ho' would ■ stay in Wellington for fifty- years' rather than see legislation rushed through in the manner, proposed. .;.;':,■„■:• j' : ;:,>a; Point of Order. .. ; •■;•• ;! ■■'"Sir. r-Hfirian"(lrivercargill) said, it was cant, humbug' and hypocrisy for Opposition--mem-bers to suggest that. Government mombers did not care how tho business was put through.; : Mr.-Massey'raised:r point of order in regard to :thisi•expression. ' : .. .'■'. ..- The; Speaker .said;,he supposed that Mr. Hanan me.ant -political cant and humbug.' (Laughter.) >■.-. .; :.V J :•. .■•■■■■ ■'.•'.v- , - 'Mr. Hanan proceeded to denounce "political humbugs," but this, eipression was ruled out of order.by ; the Speaker. . -~.-.■ ; ';■ ':■ Statement by-Prime Minuter. ; . Tho'trimo"Minister said he had been waiting/nearly, two. hours to speak on the matter. , He had'beeh rather impressed -with the almost natural' greenness; of eome members. Mr.; Biiick had. been very concerned about the yount members. He should have thought that My. Buick .was a pretty old member. .His ;(Six ;■ Joseph mission, to .the' Old Conn-; try .was a national one, and Mr. 'Bnick had taken .part .in. the\ meeting 'at Palmerston which,welcomed him back and : congratulated , him'on.;the"result.' Mr. present refer.6nce:'to':;the niatter. was an, indirect reflection on his constitucntsv He had never known more : importantvwork done during the timevlian.'had been■■.dono.this.session. 'The record up to now had been'.a fine' : ;one from the Parliamentary., working/pointiof. view. /'The complaints■ made about the progress,of the present.session' were deliberate In proposing his motion' ho- recognised; that morning sittings wero inconvenient, and ho did not. .want ;to inconvenience ■ members, but. ■;• Government members were affected in tho same way as thosb on.the Opposition side. '. . ■■;■':'■. '\ • 'Mr. Massey :'..Tney don't, take' any active part in the business. , ■ ' ; .. : '". :. : Thff Prime. Minister eaid that'that .was a libel which , had been!repeated' more than.once.. . Government j. members took jnst as intelligent I an interest in the business as. Opposition mem-bers;,-ih;,-his .opinion, they ; took an interest .which was;a great deal more'intelligent.•' Was this the -first time ■ had been asked to'~sit at 10 a.m.? I .'."...■ ■..,''■':'.j ...... :■'■ ■. Mr. Buchanan: And what good did it do?-, i;'. The' Prime Minister, said: ho. was not. talking of that ..aspect -.of : it.. .-It rhad been found,nccessary;.by .diiferent "Governments when .drawing towards the. end of - tho. session., ; ,V .\ ,':., ~ .■■i.'Mr;":Massey:''-But. : ajre"wp doing'that?, :;.';■ :(.Tho .Prime.'Minister said.that .every..session .the : House hod ; met: at 10; a.m. to. meet; tho generally;accepted requirements of the members themselves.", .It:,w4s'--'n'o inconvenience , / to 'tho Government'to remain,after' Christmas.. When they. ;tried';to. avoid.'that, in the" interests' of nieiAbers, .they ■ found, Mr. : Thomson, moving his amendment in all Sincerity, but after consultation ,with the; Leader of the. Opposition, .ho. Hd.no'doubt;''. : : ':.'. : ! : ..... ~, •,,.,•■ ■;:Mr."Th6inson:'No/"He merely"suggested the hour.- ;I had '.said. .'■.-■ ..,' : ■■-..•■.:.'"■ ■iThe .Prime.^Ministerv I accept the. explanation; The Leader 'of ;the. Opposition hnd merely a-little hand in' it If the-12.30 position was pnt on recordj.and ;the member for Wellington North'had an Opportunity to discuss his Public iSeryice':Bill6ome. afternoon, the Bill would be ;{alked:biie.;i' r ■-'■ ' ' : -'.-v;.v/. i ';. ,-,', ;. ; -Mr.■'.Herdman , :- -Ton,-i have blocked , it : .fout 'tim^s "already.:. '■': ■'-.". : '■'•■• ■.'■.".'■:■'.■'•'•..'■ -'•'The'-'Priiße.'Minister, continuing, said-,that s if 12.30ya;m. was-;fiSed?aSitho hour'f or arising, -the House wodld,get nothing dbnorHe'would mako. a 'statement'jon; Thursday..or.'.Friday.next as ;to, what, .businfiss-it-was intended to ask.the House tb:-..put'through .this session.. . ;(Mr.' .Massey:. "Much.too.late!")/,•.'Hβ'wanted 'to see what was going to.be done'm;the':intervali' The Public Works':Statenien't Iwouldiibe/-brought down '■ on I Monday.;-On Thnrsday or Friday he would'-.tell, the' House .w'ha't ■ Business he. thought should : bo I gone on, with this session; the result of the'busiriess'-.woiild then:,warrant ..their iprorogning V,bcfore;.'Christmas and 'holding? an. :early-:'me>tiiig-,iM,.:,the!fqll6winß.>'ear,.Vor.whe-ther it l was'n9 / t'. f iiecessary' to 'adjourn.and/.have #ifurth.qtj iMtoediately.' after ,, th'e: New/ ,; : .;: : -. : No. Business. Rushed. ;.i>,-,/ .;i'i,■:;■.: ■;• He 1 , - wish£d'ito-.say i'/woi'd or,' two , about- the allege'd. rush;'6f'business/ As a. matter, of fact,' -p'p. business..•iadvbeen.'..rushed- throu'gh'so.-far' ,l 'ftat;?anyVimpmberi:did 'not; 'All ;£he iGovernineilt■•Billsj^Thich'had been .brought 1 1 /downitad' bfeen.'thorbughly- explained,. and'iWhei: ;they Were ibeiiig 'dealt 'with'in : c'ommitteeVpr.ac; Iticallj-. evtry' line: and every ;.clause:had., beeii "ojiplained, •• There;'were.'important ■ Bills 'that ;hiul i .bcfei ,';put •'fhrougH; and other:. important 'measuT'eS^VouH,be-put»through'. " Theitalk 'of ,ruai >.offjKusine.Ss".was".simply, .for;.the benefit -of .■peqplp';i^bo'' , ;h'a^;;'np > (knowledgO'of-'.PaiUamontaTy. 'were led:;td ; boliovb;that ~ things-were": r'un- 'at'snch' a> pace-that' mombers v <'•■•'- : ':'.'■' '■-.'..;.-' .. :■.'>,;'•/';■,'■■'■-''.' ,!';Sir.JJ(iseph. :,(contiriuing): declared., that'a- great s d^-.'mqrt;'nbns«"n'»."wliß'''talk^ , :on. , 'that''-Biuie'ot'| .than; most .people .imagined... -Why,: at'.'the 'e'rid ! j ■bf'a.lsession:. he liakl seen":'members going away ;■*.• fresh ;;a.s-..daisies:' - . , He -wanted' to ..be-reason-' ' ablo'LEO. te'.'ias r ;.the .work>of. ; the-.-session -was concerned:.. Only; that afternoon two;hours had isimply,:-been;^wasted,'-.-and..'then some- members ; vrere - askiiig -:whet)rcr itVwas. -intended-; to ."start ■sitting.; in'.;the"''mornirigsv.neit day. ."If' they f ,hadia''latevsitting,;'they would-know JVTho; waa ;to'^'blaine.': ,/,■■'•""'' : ; r''\''-':::■''.':■,'; '■■•' ::;■ ■; '"',;J "Mr; ;Matsey:'Ton,.are. -/■:■;'■ '>'■ .. ; ' :;*■ ■:: ; /: ■• ,-',bir Joseph: Tou -jourself. havo been- talking :£or. the-sako^pf , talking.''3 . / . ;. ,; .'. ~.; :!■'' vKiMr:; Massoy.-:; Public Accounts:Com■mittcoibe: expected;to.sit; tb-n)orrow ; morning?. ' ■'■' Sir saidv that '■ as :■ it' seemed •' evident' ■■ from>:.thev rejection- ;'of. ■. tie". amendment . that, ciembors-: wanted:. to i' facilitate, the. transaction would.'.therefore suggcsti'that the.;mbrning'.sittings should not commence un-.tilThnrEdar;;,which-would give-meinbers sufficipnt tiirip':to .attend important coinmliittee meet-. .'ngjL'aboiit.'toj'be-'heldi • If. it .'.had • notvbeoD lor.'-;thev■/terrific ■ .verbosity 'of members of the' Opposition,-he : would hare made the'.propbsil' faro .hours,, before; v, •■-'■■■.' '..;:■ ':..•.': .';: Members: ...Nonsense.' '. j ' '•• .•'.•'■'; :■'■/■ ,: ;- ; Mr. Massey":, Will yon tell the ;H6use exactly /when-youvintendto 1 make the statement with reference.:to■ business?, : ■. > '.-■■'.■ ~;. :■ .;:"•;; ';"■ Sir Joseph:,Oh .Thursday afternoon,' or Ki-day-'mprning: f ' H : - :. >;; ■'.-'•■• '••;•...: ■■■: ~ ::; i; : ; ;: ,:' *a3.-np /objection 'to the;, alteration of VthoiinoticnV^y: •'.-V; ■•,- '.■'■' ■'. .. .. •: ' , ,':y.Mr.' : .Buick.: (Palmerston North) temarkeoC ,bjv way'pfi.personal explanation,': that '.what he ■fad i.atatcd; iit'/.tlie'.'.recoption to' Sir .Joseph yWard-at. Palmorston,North was that no mat-' ■tor how much: they.:might, have, disagreed as to- the'.PrimeiMin'istoT , ,going' Home, , they' were all-very, pleased -to see him back again;'■ 'He(t!» ::speaker) : ; :had. not::;opppsed 'the, proposal , toat Sir;; Joseph should go Homo.. What he had objected -to; was tho postponement of the TOrkof Pariram«it... :'., ■.■-.-■;: ■;-. ' .;■.':■. ~ -..Sir.'.Joseph:: You are now: objectinig to the lirismess.-.gbine'.on.'.: ,:..:.:■■:::-. -° ■'■■■ '■ - : ;.VlembeTs: : :-Noi: : no;::; r.\ ■;■;";' . .';_ ."..';/;.:"':;..':'. ;. Tte'fm'otion'as. amended' was then agreed'to" ■«*-lt*.;'ro)«j. ■[■■;'■ ;,; :,:-: t ,^- ;, : .-: ■ ■:.■'■ : ;-..-7?*-..-A