SESSION PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1941, Page 4

SESSION PLANS

SITTING NEXT WEEK NECESSARY INTIMATION BY PREMIER. I RAPID PROGRESS ON BILLS YESTERDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I regret that because of various circumstances it is not possible to! finish this week,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, immediately before the House rose last night. He said that the House would adjourn for an extended weekend today, either at 5.30 or at 10.30 p.m., till next Tuesday evening, and that the remaining business could easily be completed on next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Mr Fraser said that the Local Legislation Bill and the Appropriation Bill would be taken today. He hoped that the Statutes Revision Committee would report on the Statutes Amendment Bill, and that this measure would also be available. Certain amendments would be brought down, and the House would, make what progress it could with this measure. “Owing to certain circumstances, including the inability to have the Rehabilitation Bill introduced earlier, as well as other factors, it will not be possible for the House to finish this week,” he added. The Leader of the Opposition. Mr Holland, assured Mr Fraser of cooperation, and said that good progress had already been made. Mr Fraser replied that progress had been excellent. Such rapid work became almost embarrassing at times, he added, amid laughter. Five minor Bills were passed yesterday. They were the Reserves and Lands Disposal Bill, the Native Purposes Bill, the Agricultural Emergency Regulations Confirmation Bill, the Kitchener Memorial Scholarship Trust Bill, and the Auckland Community Welfare Centre and Auckland City Empowering Bill. There was again a minimum of talk, and the atmosphere was one of impatience to be up and away. The Prime Minister’s intimation of a deferment for another week was, however, taken philosophically. The legislation still on hand could have been disposed of comfortably by tomorrow. There was little speculation on the reason for the delay, members believing they could guess at the explanation. The House rose at 9.25 p.m. till 2.30 this afternoon. ELECTION QUESTION ANNOUNCEMENT UNLIKELY TILL NEXT WEEK. NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS YESTERDAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. It had been expected that Mr Fraser would announce his decision on the question of postponing the election from the floor of the House this week before the session ended, but the extension of the session makes it possible that the House and the public will not learn the decision till well into next week —more than a month after Mr Fraser's return from Great Britain. The caucus of the Government Party met again yesterday and the Prime Minister later said that, the Rehabilitation Bill had been the subject of discussion and not the election question. No further discussions on the issues involved were held between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland. Curiosity was raised at one stage in the afternoon when Mr Holland crossed the floor of the House to talk to Mr Fraser, but their conversation, inquirers were later assured, had no bearing on the earlier discussions about the election.

Though disappointment that the session would not end this week was apparent among members of Parliament there was a general feeling that while a chance of some arrangement satisfactory to both parties, and the country remained, the Prime Minister should not be hurried into an announcement.