Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1936. LABOUR LEGISLATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 206, 13 June 1936, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1936. LABOUR LEGISLATION.

The country will welcome the respite from legislative activity afford—ed by the adjournment of Parliament for a recess of five weeks. Into the twelve weeks the session has occupied has been crowded action of sweeping character without parallel in the history of the country. When the Labour Party came into power the people realised that far—reaching changes were inevitable, but they accepted the position with equanimity, relying on the Prime Minister’s assurance that nothing of a drastic nature would be done and that all sections of the community interested in any particular legislation would have time to con» sider the proposals and make any representations desired. In the event, however, the hopes of the country proved to be unfounded, because the legislative programme of the Administration has been rushed through at a pace that prevented that careful examination its importance demanded. The Government is to be commended on the manner in which the debate on the Address-in-Reply was curtailed, but the haste with which measures were passed, with the aid of the closure in several instances, destroyed the good impression made. The country quite appreciates the desire of the governing party to see its policy in operation as soon as possible, but there was no justification for crowding fifteen measures of major importance into the short space of time that has been occupied in legislative enact—ment. To the protests by the Opposition against undue haste and lack of information as to details of proposals, the retort was that in previous Parliaments the Labour Party had been in the same position. Thus the Government has affirmed the pernicious doc—trine that strength of voting power is the measure by which legislation is to be tested. The work of the session includes the passing of three enactments of major importance concerning industrial conditions in the Dominion, the Reserve Bank Bill, guaranteed prices, mortgage legislation, transport and unemployment measures. Then there are the measures providing for increases in wages, pensions, relief and sustenance payments. In addition is the three-year public works programme involving a total expenditure of £17,000,000. There are several proposals of great importance promised for consideration when Parliament resumes, but chief interest will be in the Budget, which Mr Savage says will be presented soon after the re—assembly. The new charges which Mr Nash will have to meet appear to be staggering, and many will ask how it is to be done. It is one thing to ‘make plans and another to find ways and means and work them out in prosaic but necessary detail.