IMPREST SUPPLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1840, 28 August 1913, Page 4

IMPREST SUPPLY.

PRIVATE BILLS SHUT OUT. SOME INDIGNANT AUTHORS. ■ / , When tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m., an Imprest Supply, BiH wasdritro.duced.by.;GkiVciiri:or's Message,t' On' the motion, that rtho Orders of be iPostpoxjedij' ; # /i '>i ■ ' Mr.j 'Ti: K. : SIDBY (Diiiiediri' South) asked whether it was competent to move tho'motion without tho unanimous! coil--sent of members. .. . : .The SPEAKER said thait it was. , ;Mr._Sidey said tihat oil two! or, thteo occasions-during. the session,., private members' privileges had been set aside in this way. When lie wag in Opposition the Prime 'Minister had''repeatedly protested against private'members' privileges beiii" filched away, yet in all his (Mr. Sidey's) experience ho had never known so many private members' days taken away as .during the present -session.-' The Government should offer ■aome explanation of its action: It was for the Government in any case to "take private members' day for public business about <the second week in September. On this occasion tho decision of the Government should bo reconsidered. Oil on Troubled Waters. The PRIME'MINISTER said that tho -membor for. Dunodin South had conveyed the. impression that''very few days wore-left .for; private, members. 'ilia Government had not. yet'suggested' taking' away private members' day. The Financial Debate andi an-Imprest Supply debate took precedence of private Bills. The honourable gentleman was entitled to an explanation iis to why this day had been taken. They wanted Imprest that week and tho Government had been notiifio'd that thoy must have it a little earlier than usual on this occasion, because last month hardly enough had' been voted to carry on the public services of the Dominion. Probably, he continued, it would be necessary to adr journ the House on the following evening at' 5.30, to enable members to attend tho reception tendered by (his Excellency tho_ Governor to the visiting Piuitish Parliamentarians. As to Friday, the Government miust tako'tho opportunity afforded on that day of going into Committee on tho Estimates without discussion. If any time were left on tho morrow (Thursday) after local Bills had been dealt with, it would bo allotted to private Bills. Further private membersi' day would not be taken by the Government for another week or two.

-Tho Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) expressed tlio (hope that the Prime Minister 'would extend the number of private members' days.. Two More Days. The PRIME MINISTER : I will promise tho lion, member that thero will be at least two. Mr. A. H. HINDMARSH (Wellington South) said that 110 had a little Bill which tho Prime Minister had turned down. Mr.--.Massey had said that tlio Government had very littlo power over tho Order Paper on private members' day. It seemed that tho' Government had a considerable power.

Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) urged tho Primo Minister that at least threo or four additional days bo granted to private members.