PRESS GALLERY NOTE BOOK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3977, 9 July 1915, Page 6

PRESS GALLERY NOTE BOOK.

COALITION PROPOSAL. NOT FINALLY DECIDED. FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS. Bv Telegraph—-Special Correspondent WELLINGTON. July 7No announcement was made in the House or elsewhere to-day concerning the National Cabinet proposal. This does not necessarily mean that the last has been heard of it. Such at any rate is the opinion expressed by mem bers who should have some knowledge of tho facts on which to base an opinion. It is understood that negotiations have not yet been finally broken off but it is also understood that the chances of the union being consummated are not of the best. RECORDS IN THE HOUSE. WORK WITHOUT TALKING.

After the long wrangle of yesterday t ; he House rested in the evening which means that it did a great deal of business’ in a minimum of time.

During this afternoon’s sitting two Government bills were read a third time without debate and four other Government bills were advanced a stage which is an excellent record for a private member’s day. Perhaps because it is still early in the session there were no private member business before the House. In one particular the afternoon was almost without precedent. On Wednesdays Ministers' replies to questions of the preceding week are open for discussion for a period of two hours and mem bers insist always on their right on these occasions to ventilate grievances. Rarely do they give up this right even in the rush times at the end of a session. But this afternoon no single member rose to discuss questions when the opportunity was offered. .The House rose at 4.35 p.m. because it had cleared the Order paper.

It is the habit of the Legislative Council to clear the Order paper practically at every sitting but the House almost invariably rises with a great (deal of work still undone. PENSIONS BILL AND BUDGET. The Pensions Bill to provide for increased pensions to soldiers or their dependents will be introduced this week and the Financial Statement will probably come down next week. These two items should keep the House occupied for longer hours than it lias been its custom to sit this session tip till the present.