POLITICAL PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2238, 26 August 1914, Page 7

POLITICAL PROSPECTS

DURATION OF THE SESSION

OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN

. Interviewed yesterday tho Prime Minister said that he hoped to carry out tho major proposals outlined for tho session, but he added that since circumstances aro so liable to rapid change it was impossible to make plans for moro than a. couple of days ahead. His present intention is to proceed with the more important measures, that havo .already been introduced or announced, and the list will certainly include the Legislative Council Bill now before tho House, after having been passed by tho Council. Incidentally Mr. Massey mentioned that tho House would not bo asked to attend late sittings. Very little work, will bo accomplished this week., When Parliament resumes this evening, both Chambers will adjourn in memory of the late Hon T. Y. Duncan. The temper of members will probably bo indicated ou Thursday, while tho Imprest Bill is passing through its ■ stages, for it is expected that tho Party Leadors will, thon discuss conditions and define the broad lines of thoir attitude towards the question 'Which private members dismiss with the reply: —"A short session .and very, little wwk." Against this confident prediction of tho lobbies, there is a semiofficial promise that members, will'-not. bo released before November.' So far as its normal occupation is concerned, Parliament has been . virtually idle for over a month, and even if the legislative proposals are greatly curtailed, the volume of necessary work that will remain is sufficient to occupy at least a couplo of months. ,-."'• A point of iinniediato interest is the attitude of the, Opposition towards the Financial' Statement. Since they declined to listen to its delivery, it seems unlikely that they, can undertake tho. usual debate on its contents. Should tho Opposition accept this view, tho Government will probably ask. tho House to proceed at an early date with the consideration of the Estimates. The duration of the session is, • of course, dependent upon tho date suggested, for the. general election. 'At present the .elections form the pivot for so much attention as is being given to the. internal affairs of tho Dominion. A petition has actually been circulated by the New Zealand 'Moderate League urging that Parliament should postpone the elections "while great issues of Empire aro at stake, and tbo whole attention of the electors' of this country: is, ;tad should bo, directed to assisting tho Mother Country in 1 this time of national danger." The. maximum period of Parliament is defined by tho Legislature Act as "three years, computed from tho day chosen for tho return of-tho writs issued for choosing such House and no longer."- Since all statutory provisions 'are liable to amendment aceordnig to .the will 'of Parliament, this determination need not 'necessarily be applied in the present instance, but in the absence of any suspension of tho' clause, members will vacate their seats on December 19. Any postponement of the elections .is regarded . as- extremely improbable.