PREMIER'S HEALTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 10

PREMIER'S HEALTH.

ABSENCE FOR REMAINDER OF

SESSION.

CONSERVING HIS STRENGTH.

HEAVY WEEK'S PROGRAMME,

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, has definitely decided that he will not resume Parliamentary duties this session unless there is a very urgent call for his personal attendance. His strength continues to build up slowly, but the process has taken longer than, was expected, and the good advice of his friends received substantial corroboration when he realised what a physical ordeal he was saved by leaving the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Acting-Leader of the party, who got the measure through committee and third reading on lines favoured by Sir Joseph Ward.

It is no secret that, the whole of Cabinet has been anxious to conserve the Leader's strength, and when the session is over they hope lie will take. a. change of air, for he has remained in' Parliament Building throughout his convalescence, and proposes to do so, continuing in constant personal touch with his Ministers till the session ends. s

As for the final date, official opinions incline to the middle of next week, for there is a large amount of important business yet to be transacted. The amendment to the Customs Act, imposing primage duty in statutory form, will be the leading feature of to-day's'busi-ness. There are also several small classes of the Estimates to pass,, and the Public Works Statement, with its estimates, will take another" day. .

Further important business will .come from select committees, as last week's delays over the Taxing. Bill held up reports on the Taupo petition,, involving tlie question of stoppage of the Taupo railwav. . • •

The select committee "which-has been revising the Transport Bill will have to report, and lobby opinion inclines to the belief that the measure will either be substantially. modified or postponed,- as

the time element is against securing its passage, in anything approaching its original sliape.

The House, has also to receive and discuss the report from the select committee which considered the operation of protective duties on wheat and flour, another contentious question; and it is unlikely that, after the Public Service agitation over the restoration of salary cuts, which the Government has been compelled to refuse, that the final financial measure will pass without a long debate.

These items in the remaining Legislative programme mean long, continuous work if the session is to be wound up in good time. Thus the programme involves a big physical strain, which the Prime Minister would not be justified in facing, though his health will not give

rise to anxiety if lie can be spared this strain.