PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2826, 18 July 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

THE END IN SIGHT / BUSINESS TO COME i : It is generally accepted now that tho j. session will end next week, probably after A a long Friday sitting. But.for the illness of fcho Prime Minister and the Defence Minister, some more progress might , have been made already with: two- of the Bills still on band—the Military ; Servico i Bill, which is still hung up between tho ■" two Houses, and the War Regulations 1 Bill. Tho difference of opinion between : th.e two Houses over tlio religious objec- | tors question in the Military Service Bill , is_ not regarded as a serious matter. :It . will not imperil tho final passage of the i Bill, and it has been bo long in eettle- ! nient only because tho Defence Minister ' has not been here to deal with it. . The War Regulations Bill would pass . (rithout any but for aprovision / It contains, regarding the' sale of liquor. Tho clause hi the Bill empowers-the, 1 Government to make regulations for the control of the. liquor trade in certain i respects,, the most -important being, that I of the suppression of tho practice of "treating," but the clause does not empower tho Government :to close hotels at 6 o'clock, or at any other hour. The-, : agitation that has arisen lias had for its j object the insertion, in the Bill by the ' Government of a clause providing for early closing. It is now regarded as probable that the Government will not , put any such clause into tho Bill. Those who want early closing .or a referendum , on the proposal will have their opportunities to move their amendments to the Bill in Committee, and the Government, it. is understood,'will give a-fair field to eitlier ride._ The Struggle will be keenly fought, but it should be short and sharp. If-so,! it may not' materially delay fho other business of the session: . ' - ;. f ' The biggest of. the new. Bills yet to ' come is that winch has been'described as an Omnium Gatherum Bill,, or an AllSorts Bill, to deal with a variety of matters of an emergency character: It Ims ; not been introduced, so that its official title is not. known.. This Bill may contain- tho Government's promised ''legislation to deal with tlie rent problem, m • Wellington. There will alsobe tho usual "Washing-Up" Bill. Tlie Public Works Statement, in which, by tho way, there is very fittle interest this year, will come later, then the Supplementary Estimates, and last !of all the Appropriation Bill.