PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 238, 29 June 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

Owing' to the necessities of -finance and th« importance of setting the procedure attendant upon loan-raising under way as early as possible, the House will probably be called on to wajive priority to the Address-in-Reply debate. When it meets on Tuesday the first business taken will so far as the pro-

gramme stands at present be the Loan Bill, the Government being desirous of getting the measure put through be. fore the House settles down to talk in the opening debate of the session. It is possible that provision Will be made for th e raising of a part of this loan in the Dominion, but wherever the money comes from it is recognised that an increased rate of Interest will in all probability have to be paid.although the bulk of the loan will be raised under the existing arrangements w ; ith the Imperial Government. The Addrese-in-Reply debate is expected to make its. debut on Wednesday evening, when Mr C. J. Parr (the new member for Eden) will move that a respectful address be presented to his Excellency. It has been rumoured that in the course of his speech Mr Parr '.vould suggest the desirability of elizaleting party rancour during the present crisis by a coalition in- some form acceptable. It is probable, however, in view of the fact that coalition ideas are daily fading out of existence, that the mover of the Address will eschew such delicate ground.

The seconder will be Mr Downie Stewart, of Duniedin. West. This member is a well-known student of economics, and it is anticipated that he will probably open up that most thorny of Parliamentary subjects, the cost of living questions. From opinion let fall by various occupants of the Opposition benches, it is very evident that a number of them are keenly desirous of ventilating grievances on this cost of living topic, and the introduction of it by Mr Stewart, will in every likelihood release floodgates of "eloquence which will not be easily dammed. There is an uneasy sensing of breakers ahead among many members, and that the honeyed sweetness of Friday's sitting cannot be taken as a sure criterion of continued' love or amity between the opposnig political parties. The Opposition feel that while they are jn honour bound to refrain from, harsh criticisms respecting all measures which can be justly brought un- j der the category of urgent war measures, they are not in any sense' bound to sit silent when matters of ordinary policy affecting the internal welfare of the country are brought forward. The cost-of-!ivi)ng question is one which so closely affects the domestic economy of the people of New Zealand at the present time, and has so many vital issues of local public concern attaching to it, that it can be regarded as a matter for legitimate and Unhampered debate, and some candid criticisms may bie expected in consequence. The Prime Minister is naturally anxious to see the debate cleaned up as early as possible in order to make room for a number of small War Bills ready for the House. As it is always dangerous to give members more fabulum in the shape of Bills while this debate is in progress it is probable that the- promised early sheaf will be diplomatically withheld until the : last speaker ihas had hi;? Opportunity (of unburden-' •iftS'ftbnseilf •<* jgsneral views and ppipi&B&-: ' '. ': '-./"•"-':'". ; :;V'' ;: r : '> : '- ; '. :*>•:■■ ,:" v, :