SHORT SITTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 November 1940, Page 4

SHORT SITTING

PARLIAMENT RESUMING TODAY PROROGATION TO FEBRUARY LIKELY. CONTENTION OVER SMALL FARMS BILL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The House of Representatives is meeting today, after an adjournment of about six weeks, for the final portion of the extended session of Parliament. It is expected that the session will end a fortnight hence, and that Parliament will be prorogued, to be reopened by the new Governor-General. Sir Cyril Newall, in February. Details of the legislative programme for the next fortnight are expected to be put before a caucus of the Parliamentary Labour Party this morning. As far as is known, the programme is light, but it includes at least one, and' possibly more than one measure of a highly contentious nature. The principal item is expectedd to be the Small Farms Amendment Bill, which provides for the compulsory acquisition of land. The second reading debate on this measure began in October, when, the House was last in session,' but in view of strong representations by the Opposition, it was adjourned till the sitting of the House to. begin today. Opposition to the Bill has grown considerably in strength during the recess. . particularly in the last fortnight. Resolutions protesting against the proposals in the Bill have been passed by meetings of farmers in many centres, and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union has also expressed its strong opposition in a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. The Minister of Lands. Mr Langstone, announced late last week that it was intended to proceed with the measure. A proposed amendment to the Shops and Offices Act, to allow the Arbitration Court to fix the opening and closing hours of shops, was introduced earlier in the year. It was referred to the Labour Bills Committee, which has not yet reported to the House. Also set down for the present short sitting is a Bill to bring South African War veterans under the provisions of the War Pensions Extension Act. Another Finance Bill, the fourth for the year, may be introduced and passed before the House is prorogued. It is likely to be of a minor nature, with no fresh taxation provisions.