SPEEDING UP!

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 969, 9 November 1910, Page 4

SPEEDING UP!

WHEN WILL THE SESSION END? LICENSING BILL TO-MORROW\ "As the Hoaso Ims now boon sitting for 78 days, I think I am justified in concluding that wo arc nearly approaching the termination of tho session. In which case it is usual for tho Speaker to announce, that ho wMU allow Bills to pass through all stages at ono sitting, provided that they have been introduced on tho previous day." Thus Mr. Speaker (tho Hon. A. R. Guinness) during tho sitting of tho House yesterday afternoon. "Hear, hears" from various quarters of the Chamber greeted tho announcement; Mr. Massey said that he hoped the Prime Minister would not take unfair advantage of tho suspension of the Standing Order governing tho passage of Bills. "I, think," he added, "that Sir Joseph should inform the House what business ho intends to proceed with, and when the session is to come to an end." Scopo of the Business. The Prime Minister, in reply, said that he had ncvov attempted to take unfair advantage of tho suspension of any rule. The Bills on - the Order Paper were quite sufficient to keep the House going for tho next few days Mr. Herrios: Till Christmas! Sir Joseph: Every time I get up on this subject one of the Opposition members says something about Christmas (Laughter.) If wo can't get through tho work before Christmas wo will have to come back. Mr. Massoy: Hear, hear. Sir Josoph: Yes, lot us come back if , necessary. •■ Resuming, Sir Joseph said that ho hoped to be able to circulate all the Bills that wore to be proceeded with by next Tuesday. The House had to await the- report of an important committee. which was now sitting..- Therefore members need not alarm . themselves about the business as thev wero doing. • . ' Mr. T. E. Taylor:'Then why expedite things now? Sir Joseph said th.it Mr. Speaker was not suggesting the-suspension of t/he rule to pleaso him. .As far as he was concerned, there were plenty of Bills on the Order Paper. With tho aid of the forbearance of all the members he hoped to get them through. He thought that the. Loaders wero in that, respect behaving themselves vory well. Mr. Massey. Especially, tho Leader of the Opposition. (Laughter.) Sir Joseph:.lt is recognised that"l behave myself better. (Further laughter.)

Public Works Statement Not Ready. Mr. Massey next asked when members might expect tho Public Works statement. Sir Joseph said that he was afraid it could not bo brought down this week. Owing to the sittings of committees Ministers had not had an opportunity to, consider tho proposals. Ho was' afraid that it would have to he deferred till Saturday. Subsequently, Sir Joseph stated that he hoped to lay it on the table definitely next Tuesday. Replying to Mr. Arnold the Prime Minister said that ho proposed to mako the Licensing Bill the first order of tho day on Thursday. Before that dato he hoped to put through many other Bills, including the Gaming Bill. Mr. Arnold:' Will you -take- all its remaining stages in one day? : Sir Joseph: I don't seo why we should not. It.looks as. if some'members are' afraid of a littlo job liko that. Mr. T. E. Taylor: They any delighted! '_ Continuing, Sir Joseph' said, that tho Gaming'Bill ought to bo reached that night, and beforo.-the next afternoon they ought to be clear, of. it. As ho had said, tho Licensing Bill would bo taken on Thursday. Mr. Hemes: And .'.the. Land Bill on Friday. (Laughter.) . ' . Sir Joseph: If wo finish the Licensing Bill on Thursday there is no reason why we should not take tho Land Bill on Friday. Mr. Massey again emphasised what he described as. the utter absurdity of attempting to put through an important Bill at one sitting and stated that ho hoped tho House would not tolerate anything of the sort.

Mr. Fraser (Wakatipu) thought, that the rule about taking Bills at ono sitting should not. apply to the. important .measures. ... A Forecast. ' Tho Primo Minister said that ho did not intend to have, the important mea-. sjires rushed through, at one sitting.' There were, howe'vor, several Bills which mombers would like to seo disposed of in that way. Mr. Massey: I have had experience of you in the past. - .Sir Joseph: My experience is that I havo got to watch you in • regard to misrepresentations. Continuing, Sir Joseph said that he could see !no . reason :>hy.'.:tho "session should not end on Friday week, but for tho sittings of the Hine Committee; That was the only matter that was standing in the way. He felt sure that the representatives of the people did not intend to go away until tjip charges were cleared up. He, would ask the House to wait till-then. That was his duty. > , ..- Mr. Massey:,Then.-there -will'bo.no occasion for late.sittings? . , . Sir Joseph: That will be governed by the amount of business done. A remark by Mr. T. E. Taylor: "Oh, let us got on," concluded tho discussion. ■ ■ ■'