PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Issue 19, 23 July 1934, Page 10

PARLIAMENT

WORK FOR THE WEEK

GENERAL ELECTION ISSUE

The subject of-the'lit'e'of Parliament is' likely to be keenly debated in the House of Representatives this week. Two measures dealing with different phases of tho qucs-v lon are on the Order Paper, one being the Prime Minister's Bill to permanently inereaso the lifo of Parliament to four years and tho other being that of the Leader of tho Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage), who has introduced a measure designed to. terminate the life of tho present Parliament this year, thereby retaining the former system of three-year Parliaments.

Mr: Forbes's Bill will be the first to! bo introduced, on Tuesday, and it is anticipated that it will be tho subject of a-lively debate. Whatever members of the Opposition may think about tho advisability of the proposal, which affects'tho future, they are certain to chargo the Government with acting in an unconstitutional manner in. extendig the term of the present Parliament to four years. It is quite possible that the, debato will fill the whole afternoonl on Tuesday, and as .Mr. Savage's Bill is second on. the (Order Paper for. Wed nesday a further attack on tho Government is indicated for that day.. Provided thero is time on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour, Wellington North) will introduce his Shops and.Offices Amendment Bill, Mr. W. A. Veitch (Independent, AVanganui) will introduce 'an amendment to the' Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Act, the Minister'of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) will introduce a' measure to protect' native-plants, and Mr. W. E. Parry. (Labour, Auckland Central) will introduce a Bill,to amend tho Workers' Compensation Act. If all these are' brought in, the unfinished debate on unemployment, initiated by tho motion of .Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) to introduce his Unemployment Amendment Bill, will, be continued.

Five Government measures are set down for consideration ,the same day, including the British Nationality and Status -of Aliens ' (in New Zealand) Amendment Bill, the Mutual Fire Insurance' Amendment Bill, the Opticians Amendment Bill, the- Stock Remedies Bill, and the Poisons Bill.

Besidps Mr. Savage's Electoral Bill, three,other measures are set down for Wednesday. These include Mr. W. J. Poison's Meat Export Amendment Bill, which will probably' be postponed, as tho. Government intends to introduce a similar measure, 'Mr. C. H. Clinkard's Electoral Amendment Bill, providing for, preferential voting, and 'Mr. J. O'Brien's Invalid Pensions Bill.

New legislation to bo brought down during the''week includes an overhaul of tho Mining Act, an amendment to the Meat Slaughtering, and Inspection Act, and a Finance Bill dealing,mainly With "the Reserve Bank.

Steps are now being taken in the preparation of the Budget. It is anticipated that it will bo brought down at the end of this moiitb or early in August. The Customs Bill, giving effect to the resolutions already passed, will "also be" introduced early next month, and it is possible that ,the Financial Debate, which follows " the Budget, will bo commenced before the Customs BjJl is brought down.