The next business is item No. 5:—Local Government Bill, 1952.
Local Government Bill, 1952.
Was there some agreement that this would be postponed until the next sitting day?
The Chair has received no intimation in regard to postponement.
I thought Senator O'Rourke made some suggestion to that effect.
It did not get any further.
There is an old Army Order, if you are not there, you are missing it, and it is not for me to defend Senator O'Rourke's rights. Perhaps we can go ahead, but it was he who fathered the Bill on Second Stage.
He left on the understanding that it was to be postponed.
If that is so, I have no objection to leaving it over.
It was he who sponsored the Bill, and he definitely left on the understanding that it was to be postponed. I thought he told the Chair.
Senator O'Rourke did raise the matter and the Chair suggested there might be some discussion, but no agreement was reported to the Chair. Is the House agreeable to have the matter postponed?
We would have only ten minutes to discuss the matter before the Adjournment. I think the best thing to do would be to take it at the next sitting.
Is it not for me to say it, but I think the Front Bench opposite should make some arrangements about their own business.
It is not Front Bench business.
It has nothing to do with us.
Everything is Front Bench business, and it is the duty of the Front Bench to see that the business is transacted in a proper way. That is certainly my view in regard to the transaction of business, in any event. If I were in the Government Front Bench we would know more about our business. Even in the Back Benches I am not so bad.
I do not think it would be possible to finish the discussion in ten minutes.
I understand from Senator Commons that there was agreement to have this matter postponed. This Bill is, therefore, being postponed until next week.
Ordered accordingly.
The Seanad adjourned at 10 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, 18th March, 1953.