THE SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 5

THE SESSION.

BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED, ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE. LAND AND OTHER MEASURES, ORDER OF BUSINESS. ——— -_^ Cabinet sat yesterday afternoon antf •iKiiiu in the evening. Tho preparation!) of tho Government for tlio resumption of ' tho session to-morrow afternoon uro now , well in hand. The Financial Statement, in which the policy of tho Government; will bo announced, will bo brought down . on Tue«lay next unless Mine unforseon r delay occurs. ' Tho first important business of tho sos- > sion. will l>e tlio passage o£ on Imprest i Supply Dill, which will bo introduced to- i morrow. Tho debate upon this Bill will probably take up most of tho first sitting; ' day. Thursday is in tho ordinary course ' reserved for the consideration of local Bills and other private members' business. The Prime Minister will give members an opportunity of taking two hours for the discu'sion of questions on Thunsday, as the usual day (Wednesday) is boinjj taken by tho Government. Friday will be occupied with Government business, of which the principal item will 1™ the setting up of' sessional committees. • , ' y GOVERNMENT BILLS, ■ '\ A dozen Government Bills are ready fof \ introduction. They include a measure j dealing with tho constitution of the Logis- -,' lativo Council, which will provide for an. . elective Upper House. Legislation will also be introduced providing military pensions for veterans. A reduction of the age at which women qualify for old age pensions will bo pro- • posed in a Bill to amend Iho Old Ago ! Pensions Act. \ ■ • Other Bills which will be introduced this week will contain amendments, cf the Pharmacy Act, the Post and Telegraph Act, tho Prisons Act, tho Shipping ami Seamen's Act, and the Agricultural So- —> ciclies . Act. The. lust-named will deal ] with the leasing of land belonging to ngricultural societies and with their right to raise mouey on tho security of their pro- .; perty. . ■. ; LAND LEGISLATION. ./ A Land Bill will como before P,irlia< ■ "* ', ment this session. The Prime Minister [ declines at this stage to explain the character of the measure, but it will deal with certain aspects of the Government's land policy. "To (jive effect to the whole of our Jund policy," Mr. MVsoy added, "would require (ho greater part of a session and it will not be possible to deal . with it all this year." . ' DEFENCE. Included in'the session's legislation will ' be a Bill to amend tho Defence, Act. . Tt | will deal with the. machinery.provided .Iu ; enforce the requirements of the scheme. Sovernl points have been referred to the ~* Solicitor-General and amendments will bo framed in nccordanco with his advice. AN AUCKLAND BILL. A Bill to amend the constitution of tho ■ Board of Governors of the Auckland Unii versity College will bo introduced this"" Tho measure has been drafted, and the Minister for Education stated last evening, a copy has been forwarded confidentially to the board for its consideration. LENGTH OF THE SESSION. . ; The chances are that tho Eession will | not conclude before the middle of Ocfo- J her. Tho Prime Minister has definite | plans for his first year on the Treasury I benches. "The eccond session of a Parliament," ! ho said, "is supposed to be the working session, and that must be the case in tho presont instance, owing to tho very limited time we have had for preparation. Wβ have already stiflieient work in hand for <i j session of average length. AVe are going , to ask .Parliament to put that programme through." ', RACING AND LICENSING. I Apart from the Government measures 1 to be introduced this session, two important Bills arc to bo inhroduccd by pri- ' | vale members. Mr.' A. S. Malcolm ! (Clutha) will introduce a Bill abolishing ,' the three-fifths majority, and' substitute I ing voting on a 55-J5 per cent, basis in licensing polls. Another private Bill will aim at redistributing racing permits by, giving to country clubs n larger share than they at present enjoy of the 25(1 racing days granted by statute to tho race clubs of the Dominion. GOVERNMENT WHIP. : Members of the Government parly are ' to meet in Wellington on Thursday morn. j ' ing. The business to bo dealt with in- ■ i dudes the appointment of a Island ; Whip. Either Mr. Nosworlhy- (Ashlmr- , ; toul or Mr. G. Anderson (Mataura) will probably )x> se'oetod, ami it is almost cor- j tain that tho mciubrr of Ash burton will : . bo appointed. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. An important item of business await- . ] ing the attention of members of tho House of Represent afives is tlio election '. of a Chairman of Committee*.' l't is ecnii sidered probable that !he office will be ; ■ .conferred on i\fr. F. Lang, member for. ! 1 'Mnnukan. . " j