The Levin Chronicle TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1918.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 9 April 1918, Page 2

The Levin Chronicle TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1918.

The session of Parliament which opened to-day is limited by Ministers to a duration of three weeks, but different views are expressed by. .those who consider they are in a. position to judge the tempe.F of. the House that will confront the Government. Apparently there is to be a good deal of discussion over sending the leaders Some at pre* sent, and it is understood that Dr Thacker will move a vote of noconfidence in the Government upon the Address-in-Reply, basing it on the administration of the Defence Department. j

The House must also make financial arrangements to carry on until the members return about October. The present portidn of the Liberty Loan,'now being raised, represents the whole of the Finance Minister's borrowing authority, and it is understood that the new War Loan Bill will provide for at least " thirty millions being borrowed. The Dominion's annual war expenditure has not reached that total, but the calling up of the V Second Division will greatly increase the total cost of reinforcements, and ft will not. be long before thirty millions per annum will represent the cost to the Dominion of each year of war.

Another question that must be decided this session is the date of the next general election. If ii is to come off tliis year—and unless there is an amendment of the

law this will -be tlie case—it wo- J uld be unfair to members to call ; them to Wellington and keep ; them there until a few weeks be- I fore the contest. The House will therefore want to know what is the intention of the Government and it may have before it a proposal to further postpone the election for another year. The licensing question , will be raised in an acute form. A demand for a licensing poll will come forward, and as the Government has shown itself favourable to the National Efficiency Board's recommendations for a national .plebiscite on the licensing issue and the purchase of the liquor trade, the result of the Governments planning will probably be to postpone a general election, but to take a licensing poll on the lilies of the National Board's recommendations in December or January next.

It will' thus be clear that all the. Prime Minister's skill in handling the House will be called into requisition" if the short session is to be concluded within the time-limit set. "With so many contentious . measures - and questions to deal with,; and the .probability of an ~ prgmiientative Tfouse, there is every prospect of the session' extending lover a -much longer period than Ministens are prepared to . allow.