NOT YET IN SIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 930, 24 September 1910, Page 7

NOT YET IN SIGHT.

<»• THE END OF THE SESSION. AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. In the course of a speech in the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. Horries,- M.P. for Tauranga, . incidentally remarked: "We are now half-way through the session." Tho Prime Minister: I don't think wo are. Mr. Massey: And. it does not say much for tho Prime Minister's management. . ■ Sir Joseph Ward:.lt says a good deal as to the way the Opposition have blocked business. ■ A little later tlje Prime Minister gave notice that lie would move that on and after Tuesday next Standing Order' No. 54 be suspended so far as to enable new business to bo taken after 12.80 at night. Later :in the evening there .were many complaints on both sideß as to who was responsible for the paucity -of real /work during the ' session.. ' "I am not a botting man," said Mr. Massey ; "hut if I was I would bet that the Prime Minister has filled three times,- as much space in Hansard as any man in this House." Sir Joseph Ward: I have had to reply to-everything you raise.. Continuing, Mr. Massey said the Prime Minister had wasted more time than any member of the House, and had wasted it by his methods. It was only necessary to .refer to his foolishlj; irritating speech, on the motion' to gd the Committee of Ways and Means that day. He had spoken for about an hour and ten minutes, and in that time he had said about as much as an ordinary man would have said in ten minutes, and,/he added, an ordinary man could have said it much better.- (Laughter.) ' ' r ' . If the Prime Minister wanted to save time (continued Mr. Massey), let him set the House an example. He . (Mr. Massey) had done all he could to expedite, the work of the session. There had' not,_ as far as he could recollect, been, a single stonewall this session.. / Mr. Laurenson (Lyttelton) criticised the leading. members, of the Opposition. Mr. Massey was, he said, 1 a "scold."- ' .As he was unable to: find the word "scold" in the big dictionary before him, there was a chorus of. "barrack," in. the: course of .which . Mr, Herriea facetiously Remarked that Mr. Laurenson ought to look in a glass. ■ Dealing with, Mr. Allen, Mr. Laurenson - said that the member for Bruce was not. worthy to clean the - boots.. of Mr. T. E. Taylor, who had been referred to .as . a time-waster; ; •' s .expression Mr.. Laurenson was, however,, compelled to withdraw. . In the course of some humorous remarks, Mr. Horries deplored the in-' uammatory speech ■' made by Mr. Laurenson. "If Mr. Laurenson . denounces a man," .ho said, "his election to the House, is-assured." (Laughter.) Air. Herries (Tauranga) said that the reason ho progress was being made was that 'the .Prime . Minister arranged tho business; so : badly. Why : was it that the Estimates had not been taken that day ? It. soemed as if the Primo Minister did .not car©' whether, he got through them or not.. -. Tho ■ Hon. R. M'Kensio raised his voice / against .what he' termed tho obstructive, tactics of the Opposition. Mr.. . Fisher. (Wellington Central) pointed ■ out that the House was -only able to' deal 1 with the business put be-fore-;it by the Primo Minister. Speaking at 0.30 a.m., tho 'Prime Minister:. said that the reason why he hadhad to speak' 'so much : this - ses- ;® ol k - w 9? that sho had had to roply to such, a lot ,'of. criticism. ,- The Prime Minister said,that he had .come to; tho conclusion that, it was no • P 6O . ''* r 3^ n g' to -keep early' hours. He hoped that the' 0.30 a.m. limit would he removed on Tuesday next..' 1 Mr. Massey :• That means wasting another day. Sir Joseph: I don't care if we waste a weak over it.. : - i.^^ n tniui n g, Sir .'Joseph, said that in -Mr. Seddon's time tho .House were' oftentimes' kept a week on a,Bill. r- ■ n$ T ' - Bit you drop your Bills. ; (Laughter.) Resuming, Sir Joseph said that if he found that business was being block■for the.future he would be prepared ■to do 3, 4; and 6 o'ciocK- in the morning business on Estimates and Bills He that.the' late. Mr.• Seddon was a more .powerful man than | .himself.;' The Imprest Supply Bill had to be brought down that day. "