THE SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1921, Page 4

THE SESSION.

OFFICIAL OPENING TO-DAY. LITTLE WORK THIS MONTH.. Although the session will commence to-day, Parliament is not likely to do much business before the end of the month. The proceedings on the opening day will be almost entirely formal. The Speech of the Governor-General » in print already. It is expected to di little more than indicate in general terms the major features of the sesmon’d work, and draw 7 attention to some, o 4 the problems, financial and otherwise, that have to be faced. Motions relating to deceased members of the Legislature will be the chief business on Friday, and then Parliament will adjouri until Tuesday next, when the Address in-Reply debate is likely to be opened in the evening. Members anticipate that this debat 1 will occupy the House of Representatives most of next week. r iy.e several groups that occupy the Opposition benches may choose to cut this debate short, but the acting-Leader of the House (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie) would not be embarrassed by any move of thal kind. Some minor Bills are ready foi immediate attention if they are required, and Parliament will have plenty txi occupy its attention if it shows a dis position to get busy before the Primt Minister arrives.

The Tariff Bill will not make its ap pearance until next month. Mr. Mas sey has stated that he will take chargt of this measure himself in the House and he will require time to study iti provisions in consultation with departmental officers. The report of the Racing Commission will also await Mr. Massey’s return. The promise that the recommendations of the commission would not become effective until ParHamenl had an opportunity to consider then! was made by the Prime Minister himself last session, and since then he hai received representations from some the interests affected by the report. Members who have reached Welling ton are discussing with keen interest th< probable duration of the session. Thej realise that if all the business already mentioned or indicated by Ministers ha: to be handled during the present session, there will be no chance at all oi finishing before the end of the year. Th, extension of the session into the new year is not altogether a simple matter, owing to the fact that a general elec tion is due in 1922. Members will want a reasonably long recess, and thes will wish to finish the 1922 session witl adequate time in hand for their electioneering. The late start and an aceumu lation of work are placing New Zealand’s Parliament in a difficulty.