THE SESSION ENDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3361, 30 October 1911, Page 5

THE SESSION ENDS.

CLOSING SCENES. FINISHED AT MIDNIGHT. MEMBERS GLAD TO GET AWAY. (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) AVELLINGTON, Oct. 28. The last session of the Parliament closed to-night. For some- considerable time during the afternoon the whole work of Parliament was blocked by the lion. Wi Pere, the- Maori member in the Upper House, because. lie- could not get a clause in one of the Bills framed to liis satisfaction. The two Hofuses disagreed, and it took three conferences and a good! deal of persuasion with tlie- representative of the Native race to effect a compromise. Just about- 6 p.m. it really seemed as if the persistent Maori might keep the Parliament going into next week. While the House was waiting for the printing office to catch up with its great press of work, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, made valedictory speeches iin> regard to those members who are voluntarily severing their connection with the House of Representatives, Sir AV. Steward, Alessrs Lawry, Parata. Hall, Dillon, and Phillips spoke in reply, and the House adjourned till 10 p.m- On resuming the usuali friendly speeches- by the- leaders mi each side off the House- were made, and the usual compliments paid to Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of Committees, and officers oif the House. There- was then a long delay owing to the printing office having difficulty in getting tlie Bills printed in time for the Governor’s signature. It was midnight before the session ended. The last division was taken, and “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem suing. At the wharf the southern steamer was delayed t-o enable the southern members to reach their homes expeditiously and for the northern members a special train was in waiting at the North Island Alain. Trank terminus. Alembers were all ver~ tired and extremely glad to get away.

- WORK OF THE SESSION

REYIEAYED BY THE PREMIER

(Per Press Association.) AVELLINGTON. Oct. 2S

In- moving tlie second reading of the Appropriation Bill, Sir Joseph AA ard congratulated members on the work that bad been done. He had had, he said, to give instructions to his lawyer to proceed ao-ainst- a newspaper for what he considered a gross libel, and but for an explanatory statement lie would have proceeded against a private individual. He regarded the work done by Parliament as of great value to the country, and in this connection lie instanced the AA’idows’ Pensions Bill, a ineasur e which had been adopted in no other country- The State Note Issue Bill would also be of considerable value to- the Dominion, and in _ his opinion would make for material improvement in the condition of the country in ease of a crisis taking place. He went on to say that he proposed a system of Farmers’ Co-operative- Banks. He was going to l help the small fanners by enabling them to get that help which not infrequently fhev would not get from private lending institutions system. The amendment to th© Death Duties Act would he the means of introducing taxation from estates, which in the past had not contributed to the- revenue. The assistance given to the oil industry would be of practicable value, and assist- in putting the industry on a commercially sound basis, separate fi cm monopolies of other countries. JNot only had exploration been carried out. but belli had been given in remission ot Customs duty on imported machinery for oil boring purposes, and in t-lns connection he stated that a new and much quicker system of bonne bad been invented, and would soon, be at. work when the result, he believed, would lie to develop the industry to ail extent not hitherto contemplated He was son-y they had not been able to carp out, the legislation proposed for the development of the iron industi \. i Government would go carefully into the matter during the recess. If it court be done on a proper basis it would be a crrrd tiling if the iron- industry was established in the Dominion, and he believed that eventually it would be a. good asset to the Dominion.