WORK FOR NEW SESSION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22437, 25 June 1938, Page 16

WORK FOR NEW SESSION

PARLIAMENT REOPENS ON TUESDAY URGENT LEGISLATION ONLY UNRESTRICTED DEBATE ON ADDRESS-IN-REPLY (From Our Parliamentary Reporter J WELLINGTON, June , 24. The programme for the final session of New Zealand’s twenty-fifth Parliament, which will open on Tuesday, was outlined in an interview this evening by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). The actual legislation to be passed, Mr Savage said, would be restricted as far as possible to matters of urgency, but ample opportunity would be given for discussion and in all probability the session would last until September. _ “The proceedings on Tuesday win be confined to the official opening of Parliament by Lord Galway, said Mr Savage, “After the reading of the Speech from the Throne and the subsequent transaction of formal business we will adjourn until Wednesday afternoon, when a start will be made with the Imprest Supply Bill. This must be passed before the end of the month, and consequently it will have to go through in one siting.” The Address-in-Reply debate would be opened next Thursday evening, Mr Savage continued. In the House of Representatives the customary motion would be moved by Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West), and seconded by Mr B. Roberts (Government, Wairarapa). The mover and seconder in the Legislative Council would be the Hon. F. E. Lark (Auckland), and the Hon. Rangi Mawhete (Wellington) respectively. . ' No attempt would be made to curtail the Address-in-Reply debate, Mr Savage added. It had to be recognised that the General Election was immediately ahead and that members would naturally he anxious to discuss matters of . interest. However, it was possible that late sitting hours might have to be observed to expedite the work of the session. The proceedings .of the House would be broadcast daily, the broadcast ceasing at 11 o’clock each night. Budget and Social Security “As soon as the Address-in-Reply debate is disposed of, the way will be open for the introduction of the Budget, and then we should be able to proceed with our legislation,’ said Mr Savage, “Two most important measures will be the bill giving effect to the Government’s social security proposals and the Education Amendment Bill. The latter bill has been considered during the recess by the Education Committee of the House, and when it is reintroduced it will probably reveal several variations from its original form,” , . Mr Savage added that the report of the special Select Committee which investigated the Government’s health and superannuation proposals' would probably * not bo tabled in the House until the conclusion of the Address-in-Reply debate. He understood that there would be no necessity for amending legislation to give effect to the adjustment in the guaranteed price announced by the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) at New Plymouth on Wednesday. All the requisite powers for the making of additional payment were contained in the amending legislation passed last year.- . , “An amendment will be required If a special tribunal is to be appointed to fix the price for the comIhg season,” Mr Savage said, “but the latest reports indicate that the farmers have changed their minds about a tribunal. Some of them are trying to suggest that we are endeavouring to dodge the responsibility in the election year. Nothing could be further from the truth. They can have a tribunal if they want it, but if they do not, we will not run away from the job. We will see justice done, and we will be prepared to accept the verdict of the people.”