ABOUT PARTIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 287, 30 August 1919, Page 8

ABOUT PARTIES

t HINTS IN THE HOUSE ./ SIR JOSEPH WARD MAKES A ' STATEMENT "Unless the business of the House is brought to an end suddenly, as is quite possible, I shall be very glad to give a day for the discussion' of the report of the Industries Committee, - " saiij the Prime -Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday. Tho remark drew from Sir Joseph Ward a statement regarding the attitude to be' adopted by the Liberal members during the session. "As far as I know this session is not' likely to come to a precipitate, end," said -Sir Joseph Ward. '"I thinlc it only right I should say so. I have heard all sotts of rumours .emanating- from one quarter and another as to what may happen, and I will take this' opportunity to say that I consider our duty is to the country and not to the aspirations of any individual members of tho House. I do not intend to allow what I believe to be the best interests of tins country to be prejudiced by any consideration for- individuals, and as far as this party is concerned we are prepared to ihelp to do the business of the country in every possible' way. "I will add," continued Sir Joseph Ward, "that I am not going to be one to allow, if we can avoid it, • any party business over the claims of the soldiers, because I think those claims stand out . over probably every other consideration. If there, are'any members of the House ' who have an impression' that any ad- , vantage is going to be taken by the Opposition of the matured proposals of the Government, I take this opportunity_ of saying that ive are animate! by no spirit of the kind. I do not think" there is any justification for the suggestion that' this se=sion is likely to come to a precipitate ■ ending, although we can never tell what ; may crop up, and a good deal depends on what the Government proposes. 1. don't know what_ the general policy of ' the Government is, and I want to inouire what it may be. But in the ordinary course, if ire are free from strongly contentious party nroposals, this session should continue until we. have time to do the work, before tho people are asked to decide who should rule in ! I New Zealand." I Mr. Massey said that he was very glad | to have the assurance of the Leader of : tho Opposition, on behalf of those working with him, that tho Opposition would assist the Government to get through the important work that was waiting to be undertaken. Members were aware that little domestic legislation had been passed during the last two or three years. It had been quite impossible during the war to deal with domestic legislation in addition to war matters. He would not say that there was much time even now, but he thought that the session should extend for at least two months, in order that the House might deal with the very imprftant proposals that were to-be placed before it. If necessary, ho would ask the House to start sitting 'on Mondays ej; an early date. The Leader of the Opposition had referred Uo proposals for the benefit of the soldiers, All the members wished to do full justice to the soldiers. A verv important Bill dealing with soldiers' affairs was to lie introduced, and ho would ask the House to treat it as a matter of ur- , geucy.