THE SESSION

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24679, 24 September 1945, Page 4

THE SESSION

GOOD PROGRESS MADE ON ESTIMAfES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) > WELLINGTON. September 23. Hie House of Representatives was in a working mood lest week after the protracted discussion on the Housing Improvement Bill ppded, and moved ahead of the' Government’s programme in its consideration of the Estimates ol departmental expenditure. The Rt Hon. P. Fraser, as Leader of the House, has shown no inclination to drive the House yet, as might be expected at this stage of the session, possibly because the Government has not yet got its major legislation ready, or perhaps because he does not want to interfere with the will to push on with the business. Discussions on the Estimates were much closer to the point than they have been in recent years. According to Opposition members, who are mainly responsible for the lines followed in the review of the Estimates. the reason is that the Opposition sub-committees have been working effectively in going through the sections into which they have divided the Estimates. It is apparent, too, that better use is being made of the opportunity of four Opposition members of the Public Accounts Committefe to get information. Discussion on the votes for the Prime Minister’s Department was not finished last week, because Mr Fraser had an engagement occupying him for almost all Friday. The vote for the Organisation for National Develop* ment has still to, be considered, and a progress report on What has been done Is awaited with interest The Prime Minister will also presumably be in charge of the National Service Department vote. In changed circumstances, this may not be as productive of argument as it was last year. Hdusing Improvement Bill, Apart from the Estimates, the main business last week was the second reading of the Housing Improvement Bill, the debate on which had been interrupted a month/before. This will now go to the Local Bills Committee before the House begins consideration of it clause by clause. The measure has had the general support of the Opposition, but it is expected that they will try to have amendments made in it by the Local Bills Committee.