IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY.

THE CLOSING PROGRAMME,

Parliament is getting ready for the final rush. It was indicated yesterday that the usual suspension of tho Standing Orders will bo made on Monday, and an attempt will bo mado to close down before midnight on Saturday. Tho Council, however, has not yet begun to be strenuous. It met again yesterday, after another of those intervals of rest which have been so frequent this session; but its Order Paper was still a very light one. The Administration Amendment Bill was read a second time. Select Committees reported upon Guardian, Trust, and Executors' Company Bill and the Field Divorce Bill. • The committee has added new clauses to the latter Bill, providing for a decree nisi to bo granted by tho Supreme Court on proof of the allegations in tho preamble. "Ono week moro" was the effect of the Prime Minister's answer to the question of tho hour, as announced by him in the House yesterday afternoon. He stated that if members would get on with the business, he saw no reason why the session should not end next Saturday. Ho gave a list of a couple of dozen Bills which ho will ask the House to pass this session. Among these aro tho Tramways Amendment Bill, Elingamito Rehearing, Shipping and Seamen Amendment, Retiring Amendment, Public Works Amendment, Widows' Pensions, Old Ago Tensions Amendment, Death Duties, StateGuaranteed Advances Amendment, Coal Mines Amendment, and Mining Amendment. The abovo Bills are already before tho House at various stages. Other Bills yet to be introduced and passed this ses- ■ sion, according to the Prime Minister's programme, aro a Land for Settlements Amendment Bill, Stamp Amendment Bill, Government Railways Bill (to raise wages), Legislative, Amendment Bill (to straighten out the muddle connected with tho electoral census), Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, and a Bill to provide for the development of the Parapara iron ores, besides the regular Railways , Authorisation Bill, Native Land "Wash-ing-up" Bill, and Loan Bill. The Farmers' Bank Bill is not to be carried beyond its second reading, and a Municipal Corporations Bill is to bo morely circulated. Tho New Zealand Notes Bill, Pharmacy Bill, and Noxious Weeds Bill are to be iropped or postponed. In tho latter part of tho afternoon the Houso indulged in a desultory discussion upon land j-ettlcment, with special reference to the position in Marlborough. A . keener. note was struck in tho debate • upon a proposal, championed by Mr. Laurenson, that tenants of certain State leaseholds neaT Christchurch should bo permitted to acquire the freehold of portions of their sections, in order to escape an undue burden of rating. In the evening the Houso read a third time and passed tho Auckland University College Council Bill, tho University of Otago Council Bill, and tho .Methodist Church of Nov Zealand Bill. The Tramway Amendment Bill, containing the "Davey amendment," which has aroused determined opposition in Wellington, was relegated to tho bottom of the Order Paper. i Smooth progress was made while tho Elingamite Rehearing Bill, DunedinTechnical School Site Bill, and Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill were read ' a second time, but tho Eating Amendment Bill was read a second timo only after extended discussion. Tho ..Prime i.Mittister proini«d : ;during! the;.tlobatai to propose a remedy for the injustice done to lessees of small grazing runs \t tho Rating Act of last session. The IDeath Duties Amendment Bill and the I'ublio Works Amendment Bill were also read a second time, and the House at a quarterpast 11 adjourned until Monday evening.