SLOW PROGRESS OF BILL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22492, 29 August 1938, Page 12

SLOW PROGRESS OF BILL

Minister . May .Reply

On Wednesday

REMAINING WORK OP

HOUSE

[trom Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, August 28,

In contrast with the speed with which some of the important legislation was dealt with during the first session of the present Parliament, the Social Security Bill is proceeding almost at a snail’s pace through the House of Representatives. Although it was expected that the second reading stage would be disposed of last week, it is still going on and it now seems likely that the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), who is in charge of the bill, will reply to the second reading debate on Wednesday night. Extremely satisfactory progress has been made with the other important task before the House just now—consideration of l?le Estimates of depaitmental expenditure—to which part of each week is being devoted. There are not a great many more votes to be considered, but some of the more controversial items are being kept to the end, and it is likely that there will be considerable discussion on such classes as Broadcasting, the Dairy Industry and Internal Marketing Accounts, Transport, Industries and Commerce, and maintenance of public works and services. , , Nothing definite has yet been decided for the last few weeks of the session, largely because, as the Prime Minister has been indisposed in land, there has been no meeting of Cabinet for more than a week. Local bills are to be taken on Tuesday, when the House resumes after the weekend, and in the evening the second Imprest Supply Bill of the sesssxon will come before tne House. With the almost certain prospect of a late sitting in the event of, Mr Nash replying to the second reading of the Social Security Bill on Wednesday, it should be possible for substantial progress to be made with the committee stages of the bill before the end of the week. Once this measure is passed the way will be clear for dealing with departmental legislation and other odds -and ends that are invariably gathered in 'at- the end of the session.