TEE NEXT SESSION

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21506, 22 June 1935, Page 14

TEE NEXT SESSION

BUSY DAYS IN PROSPECT

Although the next session of Parliament will not open until well on into August, preparations are already v/ell advanced, and much of the legislation with which it is proposed to deai has already been submitted to Ministers in draft form, states the "Evening Post." The last session of a Parliament, is usually a talking one, but this year there are indications that the House will be asked to consider quite a formidable array of legislation. In addition to the bills which were postponed from last session, there are a number of new measures on the stocks.

Ministers and their departmental heads have already given a lot of attention to the preparation of estimates, and these should be ready for final perusal by the Minister i< % Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) when he returns from London. Again this year main interest will centre on the defence vote. Although the details of the proposed expenditure have not yet been completed, there are indications that the vote v/ill be in excess of that of last year. The Government has various plans in view for strengthening the defences of the Dominion, and these cannot be carried out without increased expenditure.

Mr Coates stated before he left New Zealand that during his visit to England he would give attention to the preparation of his budget, so that it would be ready for early presentation during the session. Preliminary figures showing the financial position of the country were in Mr Coates's possession, and he stated before he left New Zealand that he expected to have his financial proposals mapped out before he returned.