TWO MONTHS’ WORK

Evening Star, Issue 19661, 14 September 1927, Page 2

TWO MONTHS’ WORK

MEMBERS SCEPTICAL [From Gun Parlumestari UEi’criEu.] WELLINGTON, September Id. A motion appropriating lor the remainder of the session the Wednesday sittings which private members have so far been able to utilise for their Bills was passed by the House to-day on the Prime Minister’s motion, though not without sonic doubting questions from members interested in measures which have nob progressed far along the road to final passage. Mr P. Fraser was curious to know if the newspaper reports were correct that tiio Government would give _an opportunity in _ the Government tune for consideration of the Gaming Amendment Bill, now thirty-first on the list, and the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, twenty-seventh on the Order Paper. Ho argued that there were other private measures of at least equal importance. Therefore any consideration should bo exorcised on a wider scale.

Mr Forbes (Leader of tiio National Party) suggested that the Prime Minister might well give the House a general idea of the business likely to come forward, and when ho expected the session to end.

The Minister of Agriculture: “Ha! Ha!”

Mr Forbes: I notice that the Minister of Agriculture is laughing at the idea of this place being run on busi-ness-like lines; hut we should have an enumeration of the business and _ a statement how long the Prime Minister thinks it should take. Mr Wilford: If it takes two months to do what we have done, how long will it take to do something?

Mr Forbes laughingly replied that ho was no good at proportion, but it was only business to know the work expected and the time available. The Prime Minister promised to give the House a general statement on the sessional programme within a few day;. As for the Dairy Control Bill, which Mr Yeitch wished to have discussed, lie was by no means optimistic regarding an opportunity for it. Ho regretted that Air Veitcli had misjudged in regard to the order for this Bill. Mr Veitch: Misguessed, you moan.

Mr Coates replied that lie would not cavil over words, but it was unfortunate that private members had net been able to get far with their measures.

Mr Wilford; It is what the Standing Orders are for—to prevent them getting in. The Prime Minister; Members must themselves be blamed to some extent for the position. I have rather a shrewd idea that advantage has been taken of one or two Bills to prevent other Bills being discussed. Air Glenn: Not far out.

Mr Parry: You have given a certain amount of assistance, too. The Prime Minister added that the Government had undertaken to give an opportunity for the discussion _ of the Summer Time Bill and the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill. Mr Fraser: Why? The Prime Minister: And the Gaming Amendment Bill. Mr Fraser; Why?

The Prime Minister did not reply, and the motion was adopted.