THE COMING SESSION

Southland Times, Issue 18850, 16 June 1920, Page 2

THE COMING SESSION

LONG LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 14. The first full Cabinet meeting held for some considerable time will take place today. One of the matters to be considered will be the death sentence of the murderer, Dennis Gunn. A petition has been presented for the reprieve of Gunn. Nothing has yet been done by the Prime Minister about the appointment of another Minister. In the course of a few days Sir William Fraser will be retiring from the Ministry, and this will leave a portfolio to be allocated. No satisfactory placing of the Defence portfolio has yet been fixed, for although the Hon. J. G. Coates is acting, he has let it be known that he does not consider that he can do justice to the big portfolio of Public Works and Defence as well. The appointment of a new Minister may not be made at once, hut it is generally understood that it will have to ba made before the session is far advanced. The presidency of the Board of Trade is to be taken over by the Hon. E. P. Lee this week, probably to-day. The Prime Minister may possibly be concerned with the proposals already announced for the reconstruction of the board, but he will no longer be its president. The coming session is expected to last from five to six months. Nearly every department is in need of an amending Bilk There is practically certain to be an Education Bill, which is always a difficult measure to pilot through in reasonable time. A Railway Amendment Bill is also expected. There will be an important Land Bill to settle many matters which have created difficulties in administration. The most difficult of all will be the Finance Bill, it being generally understood that many members will endeavour to remove some of the inequality in taxation, though it is unlikely that Ministers will be able to drop any revenue. The relief given in some directions may have to be compensated in others.