SESSION TO RUN FOUR WEEKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3641, 30 September 1912, Page 5

SESSION TO RUN FOUR WEEKS.

“IF THERE ARE NO OBSTRUCTIONS.” THE GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME. By Telegraph—Special CorresDondent WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. “I see no reason why the session should not bo brought to a close by October 26,” said the Prime Minister this afternoon.

“The Government has a cloarjy defined programme and provided there is no obstruction four weeks should be sufficient to complete the work ahead of us. Members know how much is to be done and it rests with them to determine whether the session is to be prolonged beyond the end of October.” Following "the usual custom the Government will probably ask the House of Representatives to sit on the la-t two Mondays, and on the last Saturday of the session, and if this is done there will bo nineteen sitting days to transact the remaining business of the session. There are at present 22 pubbe Bills on the Order Paper, of which 16 only have been read a first time. Several other measures are to be introduced.

“We propose to put through ail the important Bills already announced,” said Mr Massey. “A Defence Bill will be introduced and Parliament will be asked to place it upon the Statute Book. “The Land Bill with the amendments which will probably --be circulated to-morrow, the Valuation Bill, an important Bill, though pot a policy measure, dealing with Native matters, and a Land Agents’ Registration Bill on the lines of that introduced by Air Witty are all to be dealt with this session.

Iliere will be a debate on tho principles of the proposed reform of the Legislative Council and the House will be asked to pass the Bill reducing the term 'of appointment of Legislative Councillors to three years. “Other Legislative proposals to bn carried through deal with military and widows pensions, the flaw in the land law which permits the employment of unregistered barmaids in private bars and the matter of water pollution. “Legislative authority will also bo sought this session for the proposed system of loans to local bodies under which the State will pay the sinking fund. There will be a big “washingup” Bill and a number of minor Legislative proposals arc also to be dealt with. \

The Public Works Statement will probably be delivered towards the end of next week.