WORK OF THE SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1922, Page 6

WORK OF THE SESSION.

IMPORTANT BILLS PASSED. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Feb. 9. The Prime Minister told the members of the House of Representatives today that the work of the session had been particularly important and that the Bills passed were going to make an uncommonly large volume. Bills of minor importance were still pouring in upon the Government with requests that they should be passed during the present session, but he believed that would continue even if the House sat for another six months. He thought, members ought to be able to complete their work on Saturday. Surveying the work still to be done, Mr. Massey said that a large Finance Bill had to be presented to the House. He had directed the law draftsman to hold over the clauses that could wait until next session, but even then there would be fifty or sixty clauses to receive the consideration of the . House. Most of them were mere machinery and he did not think that the Bill would be regarded as contentious, although there might he differences of opinion regarding some clauses. This Bill had to be passed before the end of the session.

He thought that the Hospitals Amendment Bill, dealing with private hospitals and other matters, had better be held over until next session. The measure evidently was contentious and no harm would be done by keeping it. The Divorce Amendment Bill would proceed. He proposed to take the second reading of the Tramways Bill and then drop it for the present session. It would be an indication to the people concerned that the Government desired them to settle their differences.

Mr. Massey added that he had signed the supplementary estimates and they were ready now to receive the attention of the House. The Waikato and King Country .Bill would proceed if there was no objection to it. Then there was a Road Boards Amendment Bill. A little mining dispute required- legislation, but he might be able to embody the clauses in the Finance Bill or some other Bill. The Ministry for Public Works has a small Bill which, was not contentious.