END OF THE SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1916, Page 4

END OF THE SESSION.

HiOBABLY THIS WKEIv By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Saturday. Ministers ti,-e speaking quite unreser* edl> to-day of their hope to bring th« session to a close by the end of nest week. This can be accomplished only by hard driving and late sitings, but, the majority of members of the house are not anxious to prolong their stay in Wellington, and probably the Government will get its way without. an> gerimit dilliciilty. The session has been a peculiarly disappoihting one from the private member's point of view. His Bills have got no furthei than a hopeless place in the order paper, riul his notices of motion have remained mere matters of print. He has been allowed to ask questions and to get replies, when Ministers pleated; but he has never been encouraged to speak, except when the Government wished to fill up a gap. The war has tin own its shadow ovet the whole session, and everything, that really mattered has been settled in Cabinet before it reached the House. If th® constitution had permitted of such an arrangement the private member might just as well have stopped at home and transmitted his vote by telegraph when* ever it was required. The "Washing-up Bill," with its fcundred odd clauses, which was mentioned in the House on Thursday, bjj way of what is called its first reading, may. provoke members into an assertion of their rights and privileges, and possibly Into a recognition of their responsibilities; but it is more likely they will maintain their attitude of reluctant submission, anij take what remains for their nominal approval as a matter of course. Patriotism and loyalty, admirable qualities as they are, expressed in this fashion add little to the significance op dignity of Parliament, Still, they are about all the private member can contribute to tile counsels of the nation in time of war.