BUDGET DEBATED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23973, 14 June 1943, Page 4

BUDGET DEBATED

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT EFFECT OF ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT From Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 12. The Budget debate in the House of Representatives has continued its even way this week, during which the party leaders and 16 other members have spoken. Most of the other 16 have, token their full hour and it seemed at one time likely that the debate would last at least another fortnight. However, the announcement that the General Election would be held in September has given a new air of urgency to the House and a shorter time may dispose of the financial statement, even though almost all members wish to take tne opportunity of broadcasting their views. It is now thought that the session may end soon after the middle of July. Consideration of the Estimates will produce some interesting discussions. There are a number of points on which Opposition members are likely to seek enlightenment and the indications are that a wide range of topics will be given attention. A week or more may be necessary for this. The bill giving effect to the Government war pensions proposals is not likely to cause much discussion. They have been generally commended during the debate on the financial statement. There has been some suggestion during the debate that the Government has in mind some legislation dealing with land for returned soldiers to prevent inflation of values. While there would be agreement on such an objective, there might be some disagreement over details. Another subject mentioned frequently in the debate has been overseas representation, but no information about the Government's intentions has been given by speakers on that side of the House, other than laughter at the Opposition suggestion that Mr James Roberts, president of the Labour Party, would be High Commissioner at Moscow. It is known that the party would be loath to lose him. but there is still a strong body of opinion that he will go to Moscow and that the Leader of the Legislative Council (the Hon. D. Wilson) will go to Ottawa. Overseas Relations Another aspect of overseas relations was the suggestion of Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) that the House from time to time should have the opportunity to discuss foreign relations. The idea seemed to find favour with the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), who said it might be possible to make time for such a debate. That was before it was announced that the election would be hold in September, and it is possible that members may not wish to devote much time to this as consideration of the Estimates will give them the chance to seek information and give their views on some part of this subject. One feature if the debate was the declaration by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) that if the National Parly obtained a majority at the election it would attempt to form a non-party Government on the conditions that every effort should be made for the war effort, that no contentious party legislation was introduced, and that there was no outside domination. It had been suggested in some quarters that this attitude, last stated by Mr Holland some time ago, had changed since the formation and breaking up of the War Administration, and he took the opportunity of saying that there had been no variation.

Interesting expressions of opinion have come from the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene. Native member of the Executive Council, and Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Government, Christchurch South). Mr Tirikatene was confident of an early settlement being reached on Maori claims, and Mr Macfarlane gave expression to the opinion, widely voiced in the lobbies, that Major C. F. Skinner (Government. Motueka) would be a good Minister of Rehabilitation. Mr Macfarlane was careful to say that he was giving only his own view, but it has been generally accepted as a fairly good indication of what is likely to happen.