IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 7

IN PARLIAMENT.

9 DAILY SUMMARY. POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS THREATENED. The Council yesterday put all tho local Bills through all their stages, except tho Wellington City Empowering Bill, which was held over for further consideration of tho provision relating to charging for admission to reserves. The administration of Bellamy's was discussed at somo length, and tho second reading debate took placs on the Workers' Compensation Bill, which was expounded in detail by the Attorney-General. Hopes that tho present session of Parliament would end this week may not now bo realised, and somo members are not a little angry at tho probable postponement of tho period at which they will be free to hurry homo and woo their various constituencies. This became apparent yesterday afternoon when tho Education Committee reported upon the petition of T. 11. Laby and others for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into tho present position of university administration and education. The Committee reported that reforms were called for, but that a commission was unnecessary. Mr. Ilordman, disregarding protests from the Government tenches thnt tho subject could not be dealt with this session, proceeded to urge that tho appointment of a commission was undoubtedly necessary. Mr. Laureneon made what ho described as a "strong and bitter protest" against a discussion on university reform at a time when eighty members wero anxious to get back to their constituencies. The question under review Mr. Laurenson declared to lie "a contemptible triviality." Tho Prime, Minister followed in an equally unbalanced strain, and declared that, as a result of time-wasting that had gone on, it might bo necessary to postpone the general elections until January. Mr. Hevdman took an opportunity later of protesting vigorously against the Prime Minister's accusation that, in discussing an important question, ho had been wasting time. At four o'clock tho Prime Minister endeavoured to prorent tho withdrawal of an amendment, referring its report back to tho Education Committee, which had been moved by Mr. Herdman. Ho declared that since tho discussion had taken up so much timo it might as well take up the rest of tho afternoon. Eventually poace was patched uj> and the report was referred to,tho Government for consideration. Dospite the statement of tho Prime Minister, it is not generally believed that tho elections will be postponed until January, or even that tho session will be continued, as ho somewhat vaguely suggested, until tho end. of next week or the week following. Tho Public Reserves Amendment Bill, the Representation Commissioners' lieports Validation Bill, and tho Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill were carried to the conclusion of tho Committee stage. In tho evening Mr. Dive proposed as an amendment to tho motion for tho second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill, that the Opunake Branch should be included in the lines to ix constructed. Into tho debate on this amendment tho Premier was allowed to introduco an attack upon Mr. W. H. D. Bell, the Reform candidate for Wellington Suburbs. A very warm timo followed. The withholding of information ■ about loans, Mr. Fowlds's opinion of the Administration which he has loft, and a groat deal of talk about "innuendo and insinuation" figured in tho discussion. At length Mr. Dive's almost-forgotten amendment was defeated, and tho Bill was read a second time. In Committee on tho Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Bill, a clanso was added to give teachers tho right of appeal in case 3 of transfer. A few weary members composed what is called Committee of the Whole, while it dealt with tho "Washing-Up" Bill and the Railways Authorisation Bill during the couple of hours after midnight. The Mining Amendment' Bill was next committed and was still under consideration when The Dominion went to press.