THE SESSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2305, 25 September 1908, Page 2

THE SESSION.

APPROACHING THE END. THE TEN IMPORTANT BILLS. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Sept, 24. 4 During his Statement about the business yet to be done this session, Sir Joseph Ward mentioned the ten most important Bills that he wished to pass. These were tlie Arbitration Bill, the Education Bill, the Workers’ Compensation Bill, the Coal -Alines Amendment. Bill, the Loeai Bodies Loans Bill,' tho Government Advances to Settlers Bill, the Clnssi-ficat-ion Superannuation Bill, the Heavy Traffic Bill, the Old Age Pensions Bill, and the Water Power Bill. The last-named, he explained, was with a view to the utilisation of some of our water power for mining and other purposes. The other Bills wore not so important, but some of them should be put through. He would put them in their proper sequence on the Order Paper, so tint, members would understand their position when dealing with "them. Ho Suggested that they should take the Public Works debate to-morrow* evening—(Ojiposition “Noes”) —in which -case they could complete their work by Friday week. (Laughter, and “Hear, hears.'”) The' Leader of the Opposition .he noticed, smiled, but the Arbitration Bill was nearly through and there was no .reason why, during the next week, they should not sit in the mornings. (Hon members: “No, no,” and “wdiat about committees?”) Of course, it would bo quite easy for them to stay there for the next three weeks or the next month if lion members wished it. He understood, however, that there was a general desire'6n the part of members to pre&= the business.

Mr. Massey did not agree with the suggestion that they should sit in tlio mornings. That was absolute slavery —(“hear, hears”) —and under such "circumstances members could not properly consider the business. After what" the Premier had said, lie thought the end of the session seemed to fade away into the dim and distant, future. Even now he thought the Premier had not mentioned the whole of the business. For instance, he had said nothing about_ the Bill to increase the .naval subsidy. Sir Joseph Ward: You’ll get that on the Appropriation Bill. Mr. Massey: It would be more satisfactory to have a Bill. Mr. Lauronson : Let it: stand over for another year. Mr. Massey said he was sorry to hear the member for Lyttelton, who was .always exjiressing his loyalty, say that. In addition to the matter of the naval subsidy, there was the Noxious Weeds Bill. No doubt a number of members were anxious to get hack to their constituencies, but- they had been sent there to do their work, and they should stay and do it,

Mr. Laurenson took objection to Mr. Massey’s reference to the .interjection lie bid made about the naval subsidy. There was no -reason why it should not stand over, and then the question would arise whether New Zealand should give a subsidy or establish a navy of her own. . Sir Josenh Ward said it was intended to -deal with the increase ot the naval subsidy during the present session. If n Bill was necessary it could he introduced, but he had been cold it could .lie done by a clause in .the Appropriation Act.