PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1548, 9 May 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME

Parliament was opened this afternoon. The afternoon will be devoted, after the Governor’s Speech, to references to deceased legislators—the Hon. J. A. Millar, the Hon. J. Duthie and Mr Moss (one time member for Ohinemuri). Both Houses will then adjourn, as a mark of respect, until Thursday afternoon. Such a long adjournment is unusual, but is probably due to the fact that, on account of the war, all Ministers are saddled with so many and so varied re sponsibilities that they welcome even a day’s adjournment, to en able them to fulfil their departmental engagements. The are that for a few months Ministers will have a busy time. It is stated that an attack will be made on the Defence administration, and i'- i spite of the fact that a National Cabinet is iu office, may lead to protracted debates.

As to the legislation that will be the chief subject of Parliamentary concern, it is understood that the Military Service Bill, dealing with compulsion, was finally revised by Cabinet yesterday afternoon. The terms of the measure are not known, but it would appear that it will seek to conserve the voluntary spirit to the very last limit, and only institute compulsion when a district has been proved to be entirely unwilling to fulfil its national obligations. That problem settled, the Government will go on with the Military Pension Bill, which is designed (though the details have not yet been made public) to ensure that everyone who offers his services in the cause of the Empire shall not unduly suffer from the penalty that his self sacrifice entails. The Soldiers Land Settlement Bill will probably evoke considerable debate. As its title implies, it is designed to facilitate to the last degree the settlement on the land in various methods of those men who have returned from the front incapacitated for further service. It will not be the subject of controversy except, perhaps, in regard to detail.

There is also to be a War Regulations Bill, which is likely to be of considerable importance. Among other things it will deal with the control of the liquor traffic during the continuance of war.

Authority will be taken during iug the session for the raising of money required for the carrying out of the war as far as it concerns New Zealand ; and it is likely that a Loan Bill will be brought down. Last session the Government took authority to borrow The whole of that sum has not been raised, and it is well-known that the New Zealand financial year has closed with a very large surplus. On the other hand, as the war has proceeded the cost of the operations to New Zealand has increased, and it is not likely that the requirements of the Government will be less than those of last year. Present indications are that there will be no proposal for the raising of a local loan. The Address iu-Reply debate will commence on Thursday, and there is a possibility that it will finish late on Friday night. Many members are entering on the session fully primed with questions relating to the conduct of the war as far as it affects New Zealand, but it may happen that a good deal of the criticism will be held over until the measures relating to that particular matter are brought under review, more ‘ especially when they reach the committee stage.