INTO STRIDE.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 3

INTO STRIDE.

PARLIAMENT'S WORK. REAL BEGINNING THIS WEEK. TWO MX.C.'S WITH LABOUR. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Parliament has not yet got fully into its stride, but this week will see the real beginning of the session. With the inauguration of the Address-in-Reply debate on Tuesday night the Opposition will have opportunity during the week again to test the strength of the House. A no-confidence amendment will be moved, but the date of its presentation has not yet been fixed. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. 31. J. Savage, is in Auckland, where he is addressing a public meeting in the Town Hall to-morrow night, and as ho will not return to Wellington until Thursday the first Labour speaker in the Address-in-Reply debate will be Mr. P. Fraser, deputy-Leader. It is expected that the terms of the no-confidence motion will be determined after Mr. Savage's return. The prolongation of Parliament's life, the Government's alleged failure to deal with the unemployment situation, and the necessity for the restoration of salary and wage cuts will probably be three main items covered by the amendment. No understanding has been reached between the leaders of the parties to curtail the length of the debate, and its extension into the second week will not embarrass the Government. When questioned on Saturday, the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, was unable to say how far advanced the Government was with its legislative programme, and this confirms the belief that the unsual policy of marking time is againg being pursued. It is unlikely that any legislation will emanate from Cabinet until the conclusion of the debate.

Outside the Chamber steps are being taken for the re-fonnation of the Coalition study circle, which successfully functioned last session. "Yes," said one of the group of six to-day, "we will be at it again scrutinising all the Government policy and doing our best to ensure that Cabinet is keeping within the bounds of public interest with its contemplated legislation." He added that the first issue to be subjected to analysis by the group would be that of tariffs, but nothing could be done concerning these until schedules were announced in the House.

A party development of some interest is the alignment of two legislative councillors, the Hon. Mark Fagan (Wellington) and the Hon. T. F. O'Byrnc (Invercargill) with Labour interests. Mr. Fagan has been a regular attender at Labour caucuses in the past, and on Friday his attendance at the Labour party's meeting was in association with Mr. O'Byrne, who has just taken his seat in the Upper House. It is significant that the other legislative councillor with a Labour record, the Hon. T. Bloodworth, was not invited to the gathering.