THE SESSION.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 September 1919, Page 3

THE SESSION.

HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? 3 “NO PRECIPITATE END,” SAYS OPPOSITION LEADER. ' Replying in the House of Representatives on Friday to a request by the chairman of the Industries Committee (Mr C. A_ Wilkinson) for a day to be Set apart fol' the discussion of the Colllnlittee’s report the Prime I\/I.:nistel~ stated that “unless business of the HOUSG W 33 bmllght to an end suddenly, which was quite possible," he would be VGTY glad to comply with the suggestion. V b A little later the Leader of the Cpposition, Sir Joseph Ward, disclai:ned any desire to bring the House to a sudden end. “I Wollld.ii'.{3 to say to the Prime Minister,” he said, “that so far as I know, this session is not likely to come to a precipitate end: and’ I think it -only right to say so. (Hear, hear.) I -have heard a great many rumours from one part and another as to what may happen, but I want to say that our duty is to the country first, and not to consider the ‘individual aspirations of members of ‘the House, no matterto what party lthey belong‘. (Hear, hear.) I, for one, do not intend to allow the interests of the country to be prejudiced by any considerations of that sort. (Hear, hear.) I am not going to be one to allow it, if I can avoid it, any party bitterness to interfere, for example, with any legislation for the benefit of returned soxaiers and soldiers’ dependents. (Hear, hear.) I think that they stand above everything elsc——(hear, hear)——and ‘if any hon. members think that any advantage is going to bctaken by members .01‘ the Opposition in that regard, I want to say that we are going to do nothing of the kind. (Hear, hear.) There is no ground, so far as we are concerned, for fearing that the session

will be brought to an end precipitate ly.

“I cannot, of course, say What may crop up,” added _Sir Joseph. “A_ good deal depnds upon what legislation the Government proposes; but if their legislation is free from strong party controversial proposals, I think that the session should continue until the House has passed the legislation necessary to be carried before the people "have an opportunit_v of deciding who shall rule the country.” (Hear, hear.) . Mr Massey said that he was very glad to have the assurance of the Leader of the Opposition. on behalf of those associated with him, that they would help the Government in connection with the necessary and important work remaining to be done. There had not been much legislation carried during the war,‘ and arrears must be made up in some respects. He thought they should have at least a Session of two months for the consideration of very important proposals that were intended to be laid before Parliament; and if necessary he would propose to take Mondays at the earliest possible date, so that legislation might be facilitated. §ir Josepli Ward had referred to legislation for the benefit of soldiers. He hoped that the Government and the House would do what was right in that connection. As had been well said. the soldiers had done their duty by the country and the ccuntry should do its duty by them. (Hear, hetr.)