GETTING TO WORK

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1928, Page 2

GETTING TO WORK

SIR JOSEPH’S WARD PROGRAMME. LEGISLATION AT ONCE OR FEiISRFAR V SESSION. WELLINGTON, Dec. o. Signs of coming events were made plain to intensely interested legislators in the House of Representatives this afternoon, when Sir Joseph Ward from his position on the Opposition side intercepted a motion of the Prime Minister that the House should adjourn.

.Sir Joseph asked if it was intended when the House resumed at 2.30 on Thursday afternoon that tin- Add res,s-jn-Reply debate should go on. “Yes,” replied the Prime Minister, who suggested that after formal business the .speeches of the mover and so- under should he taken and the House couhl follow on. with the debate. “I know the general custom is to adjourn after the first two speeches.” continued Mr Coates, “hut in

this case we could meet the convenience of members and probably that of tho country, more effectively if 'wo continued the debate. (Hear, hoar). I suggest that if it can he arranged. with tho various parties we should complete the debate oil Friday flight or Saturday morning. What I mean is that wc should finish either on Friday night or some time on Saturday morning, and this would meet the convenience of members and give them tho week-end clear. 1 make that suggestion to other loaders of parties—that we should make an arrangement to shorten down the number of speeches as far as practicable It will be serving the best interrsl of the House, and ol the country, too.”

ANOTHER SESSION POSSTIH.B. Sir Joseph Ward’s comment on the Prime Minister’s suggestions aroused great interest. He personally approved the lire posed arrangement, lie said, and if it was approved lie could arrange for one speaker from his side of the House, so that if there were expressions from one representative ol each of the three parties, all that was necessary for Parliament to do could be accomplished. “Unless an arrangement can he made,” continued Sir Joseph, “it- is only right for me to inform the House that we would need

to have a meeting of Parliament not

later than February. I had hoped it would have been possible under an arrangement to be able to do some legislating this session, otherwise it will he absolutely necessary fori the House to meet during the month of February, or, at. latest, early in March. It is not necessary for me to give my reasons now, hut I will do that when I get the opportunity.” The adjournment until Thursday afternoon was then taken.

REASONS FOR EARLY LEGISLATION. As Sir Joseph Ward explained .subsequently. lie is anxious to get certain legislation passed without delay, and if there is no chance this session, then be is not willing to wait longer than February. Obviously the coming Prime Minister lias in mind tbo necessity ol securing the parliamentary nuthorit’for the extended expenditure needed to expedite the Public Yorks consti notion program me of lines explained folly ill bis pre-election speeches. Hiplan serves the double purpose ol proving that tho l nited Party policy submitted to the electors was seriously intended for practical operation .'if opportunity offered, and it will giv f Hie Government power to relieve tin unemployment situation with promptitude. If the new Government waited for tlie normal course of parliamentar,' events nothing could be done until mid-winter, when it might he _ e\pociecl that the unemployment situation would have .developed to its worst

point. v suggestion was made this week that a preferential voting measure wm also regarded as an urgent item of the coming programme, hut the probability is that' this will he relegated t< the background in the meantime. L is one of the significant iudieationof the general agreement among legislators that the v need not make preparations for any early electioneering.