PARLIAMENT'S HOURS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9663, 30 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT'S HOURS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 29. In the House this afternoon, the Premier gave notice to move that on and after Saturday, December 4th, the House sit on Saturday from 10 a m. to 1 p in. Mr G. M.\ Thomson" (Dunedin North) asked the Premier if he would make arrangements as soon as possible for the House meeting during three days in the week from ten a.m. till ten p.m., two days of the week to be, eet apart for committee work; the sugggestion to be made to apply to the remainder of tne session, with a view to facilitating public business. *, •A short discussion ' ersued in which varied opinions as to the advantages or otherwise of the adoption of the suggestion were expressed Mr J. Allen (Bruce) holding that members required the mornings frr going through Bills when their heads were cl ar.

The Premier said that he approved of reasonable hours, though any pro pnsal to change thrf hours of sitting would meet with opposition. He complained that members on the Opposition side had adopted destructive tactics, and wasted time discussing Bills not before the House. If the suggestion of Mr Thomson were carried out it would be possible for the work of the session to be further obstructed "W" futile 'discussion. He was willing to have a meeting in the forenoon, thrfe days In the week, j without fixing the hour for rising. He objected to the exhaustion 'pro- | cess, but members themselves were I to blame' and not the Government.