BUSINESS OF THE SESSION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2287, 22 October 1914, Page 6

BUSINESS OF THE SESSION

SOME IMPORTANT BILLS TO STAND OVER

STATEMENT BY TOE PREMIER

MAY WIND UP ON SATURDAY WEEK.

A' statemont in regard to the remaining business of the session was made in tho House of Representatives , yesterday afternoon by the Prime Ministor. Mr. Ma-ssoy said .that he proposed to strike out sorao Bills so far as this session -was concerned. They were, ho said in reply to Sir. Joseph. "■ Ward, not dead. They would merely be sleeping. The first Bill is the ' Legislative Council Bill. We proposed to go on with that. ' Sir Joseph Ward: With proportional representation? Mr. Massey: We propose to pass the .Bill, I do not say that it will necessarily be without amendments, but the Bill is going on the Statuto Book. If it is not satisfactory to the members of the new Parliament, there is no reason why they should not amend it. Continuing, Mr. Massey said that it was proposed . to proceed with the Workers' Dwellings, Land, State Advances, Wages Protection, nnd Contractors' Liens Amendment, Taicri Land Drainage, New Zealand University, River Boards, and Railways Improvement Authorisation . Mr. G. W. Russell (Avon): The last-named is the Bill containing Mr Hiley's scheme. Aro you going on with | Mr. Mnssey (emphatically): Rather! ■ It is urgently necessary. I have received several communications, lnclud- < ing a number from Canterbury, asking - the Govornment to go on with the Bill and protesting against the attitude of • tho Opposition in regard to it. Sir Joseph Ward: But you won't raise the loan? ■ \ . '. Mr. Massey: I am not goingto commit tho Government to not raising the loan. Wβ dp not laiow what the position of the money market may be durmg the next few months. All that Parliament is asked to do is to agree to the proposals made by Mr. Hiley. ' Mr. Russell: There is no chance of • raising the money. Mr Massey: Tho outlook ie not good : now, I admit; and tho money may be more urgently required for other pur- _ poses even if wo are able to raase it.That is a matter for the Government ■ to consider. The Legislative Amendment Bill (No. 2), the Land Bill, the Orchard and Garden Diseases > Bill the Medical Practitioners, bhipping Documents during War, and Land Lents Bills would be proceeded with. The Cook Islands Shipping Bill would be deferred till next year The Local Giants and Subsidies Bill would also stand over until next session. i Sir Joseph Ward: I should think f!o., Mr. Massey: The Bill is being flowed • to stand over at the request 'of the local bodies, who ask for time to consider it. Tho Master and Apprentice Bill tne Crimes Amendment Bill, and the Motor Bill, the Magistrate's Court Bill, and the Religious Instruction in Schools . Referendum Bill would also be deforrod. If possible an oppor- ' tunity would be given ,of putting , the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitra- • tion Amendment Bill and'the: Industrial : Unions and Trades Unions Enabling ■ Bill (both private members Bills) through their final ' stages. • Mr EH (Ohristchurch South): What; about a Shops and Offices BUI? ■ Mr Massey: I'have given instructions concerning that, but if ft is introduced it will be a very small Bill: Sir Joseph Ward: What about theincrease in the graduated land tax that ■you have spokon of? Mr. Massey: That will be part of the programme for next session. It .will ■ particularly apply to improvable land •, held ■in unimproved condition. There was also , the Cook Islands Bill and the Loan Bill, which would bo taken with tho Public Works Statement There would also bo two Washmg-Up Bills, but these Bills were not of a contentious character. . ... , Sir Joseph Ward: Oh, arent they! Mr. Massey said there would also be ;■ some smaller non-contentious Bills which tho Government had not yet been ablo; to get drafted and printed. There were, also the Coal Mines BiU and Mining. Bill to be proceeded with. the local Bills, ho proposed to ask the House to consider these noxt.Saturdnj. He thought that 1 if no time, was. wasted they would yet be- able to finish on the following Saturday,.

only One Contentious Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said the • Opposition had been ready all alone to expedite business. (Laughter.) He had said long ago that in the absence of contentious measures, tho Opposition would give'every assistance to get tiie Bills on.' the programme through. One of the most contentious Bills. on tho Order Paper was the Legislative Council BdL Memberfon hia side of tho House could not understand why some of the ideas in it should be put into law, without the people being consulted upon them. With the exception of this Bill, the proGramme presented no difficulties. _ The Right Hon. W. F. Massey said he was sorry that the honourable gen tieman should suggest that the Legislative Council Bill should stand over, in view of the fact that it had been before Parliament for three years, that the Legislative Council .had done a great deal of work upon it, and that it hod already passed its swond readmg n the House. Now he hoped tho House Zild put it through its stages. As ho had said, tho. Dill nae in somo of its minor proposals ai exMriment and he saw no reason why, f "S5 Ward: It isi currently ro-, ported that the honourable gentleman Ssto make a number of appointments to the legislative Council before tho elections. Mr. Massey: Oh, nonsense I Qir J Ward insisted that tho report was general, and he asked the Primo Minister directly whether any fresh; appointments wore to be made. I think Tam entitled to ask that," ho con- ° Mr Massey: Tho honourable gentlemin 'may be entitled to ask it, but I don't know that I am bound to answer it I know if I had asked him a similar question when he was Prime Minister he would not havo answered mo. I only wish to by to tho honourable gentleman that 1 am not responsible for rumours that may be circulated. 1 will say this: that no proposal to appoint any members of the Legislative Council has ever bnen considered by the present Government. I will go that far ' Sir J. Ward: I would say'to the honourable gentleman that tho practico of his predecessors was not to make appointments to tho Legislative Council on tho eve of an election. (Laughter.)