PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 March 1921, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

SESSION OPENS TO-MORROW. PREMIER’S CALL TO LONDON. FORTNIGHT’S SITTING EXPECTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, March 7. Although the session of Parliament opening on Thursday has been called for a special purpose, the Houses have to comply with the usual forms The Governor-General will read his speech, which will refei to little else than the call that ha« reached Mr. Massey to attend the Im* perial Conference The Address-in-Re-ply is to be moved by Mr. Williams (Bay of Plenty), who is politically the youngest Reform member, and will seconded by Mr. Craigie (Timaru),. who ranks among the Independents. The debate on the Address is likely to occupy several days. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W’ilford) does not intend to let pass this opportunity for criticism, and there are indications that Liberal and 1/abor members generally will make speeches. Mr. Massey’s proposed journey to London will be debated at this stage. An Expiring Laws Continuance Bill will bp required, but. will not contain contentious matter. It ought to pass quickly. The amending Shops and Offices Bill, promised by Mr. Anderson, dealing with the closing hours of small shopkeepers, will probably contain one clause only, but it is sure to encounter some opposition. Then will come an Appropriation Bill,' which will provide for the financial requirements of State Departments to the end of the year, and it will contain also clauses dealing with several other matters. Nearly all the Ministers have some more or less urgent legislation in hand, but the amount actually dealt with during the session will depend upon the temper of the House. Mr. Massey does not think the session will need to last more than a fortnight.