of "another place''. We believe that Senator Jackson was justified and correct in his criticism.

It seemed rather senseless this week to ask the Senate to debate the Franchise Committee report even after Ann Cartwright DeCouto's bill to kill fast food franchises had passed the House. The insistence that the Senate debate the report gave every appearance of a refusal by the UBP Government to face their defeat. It seemed that they wanted a last ditch opportunity to say that the committee agreed with franchises, heavily disguised and sneakily presented. No matter what the Franchises Committee report said, it was suspect from the beginning because of the way the committee was constituted.

It seemed to make very little sense to drag the Senate through a dead duck debate on fast food franchises, especially given Premier David Saul's statement that the Big Mac issue is dead and Government must move on.

Very sensibly the Progressive Labour Party members of the Senate declined to take part in this last gasp charade.

Now the Senate President has pointed out that his Chamber is hard pressed to complete its business before Christmas and has to attend an extra session.

It does seem to this newspaper that a good deal of time is wasted at the beginning of sessions and as a result the legislation, often very important legislation, piles up and is rushed through at the end of a session in order to get passage. The Legislature then takes very long recesses with members complaining that they did not have enough time for debate.

Senator Jackson has said, "I see an urgent need for the Legislature at large to give very close and careful attention to the priorities which have to be established.'' He has been joined by Independent Senator Alf Oughton who has said, "What we really should be looking at is the amount of time spent in recess. Do we really need six weeks at Christmas and six weeks at Easter?'' The truth seems to be that governments are happier when the Legislature is not in session because it spares them open forum criticism from the Opposition and it cuts down on the Opposition's public exposure.

Part of the problem is the amount of time Members of Parliament spend talking for the radio audience. Despite that there still has to be sufficient time for full debate of the people's business.