Comment From The Capital

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28679, 1 September 1958, Page 10

Comment From The Capital

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 31. With only a fortnight remaining until the “final deadline” date which would allow the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) to attend the opening of the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations, at New York on September 16, it seems unlikely that Parliament can get through its business in time. So far there has been no mention of the obvious alternative—an adjournment of the House until late in October or early November. There are many indications, however, that this possibility is being considered behind the scenes—and that the Opposition is well aware of it. When the House rose on Friday there were 34 bills still on the main order paper, eight on the local bills order paper, and four more which had been introduced that day. The bills include contentious measures like the Police Bill, the Local Election and Polls Amendment Bill, the Air Services Licensing Amendment Bill, and the Transport Amendment Bill (No. 2). Few Working Hours Even with the extension of sitting hours until midnight on three days a week, the House has only 56 working hours in which to deal with all these and several important ones not yet on the order paper. These will include the guaranteed prices legislation, new defence measures, social security, the family benefit and home ownership scheme, and war pensions. The Minister of Finance (Mr Nordmeyer) has seven bills in his name still on the order paper; but to get to the economic conference at Montreal he must leave New Zealand in a week’s time. In addition, debates on external affairs, overseas trade, defence and the electric power White Paner have been suggested. When the House rose on Friday, Mr Nash said that most of the bills on the order paper were “reasonably non-controversial,” except those connected with Budget matters. His estimate may be unduly optimistic, and that enough argument exists in the bills already showing to keep the House busy for a month. With an adjournment plainly in view, many of these measures could be dealt with, and the others safely left. Opposition members insist that they are not merely being obstructive in asking for more details. They want to know the position in order to assist the Government where possible. Little Time To Talk Counting the newly-introduced bills,. 20 have still to go through the second reading debate, which is the time set aside for general discussion If all the time left between now and September 12 was used in discussing these bills, it would give them a mere two hours and a half of consideration each.

Actually they will not have even that much, if the session ends as planned earlier. At least one more Wednesday afternoon will be devoted* .to written answers to questions, and at least two days will go; in discussion of the remaining Estimates. This would reduce debating time by about 15 hours, leaving not much more than 40 hours in which to clear all the biffs and have one or more of the promised debates. Heart In South ? .

When speaking of the beauties of the South Island and recom-

mending that the Government should do more to publicise southern tourist attractions, Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn) received some unexpected assistance from the Minister of Finance (Mr Nordmeyer). Mr McAlpine stumbled momentarily when giving the height of Mount Cook—and from across the House came the exact figures. Thanking the Minister, Mr McAlpine said: “Of course, the Minister comes from around those parts. Apparently the grandeur has penetrated into his heart.” Opposition voices: No—the gold. Another Opposition voice: A frozen asset. Mr Nordmeyer, born in Dunedin, educated in Alexandra and at Waitaki Boys’ High School, smiled and said nothing.

Scenery An appeal for more tourist activity in the South Island was made by Mr McAlpine during discussion on the Estimates for the Tourist and Publicity Department. He described tourist policy as “blowing up the North Island with its limited geothermal activity and the smells that go with it, which are not particularly attractive to South Islanders or anyone else.’’ Mr McAlpine told the House of the winter sports areas of the south. He suggested that the Government should give all the attention it could to replacing the Eodge, Hanmer. “Certainly it belongs ta a private company,” he said, “but today its replacement is be/ond the resources of private enterprise. It is up to the Government to do 'its best to re-establish one of the country’s great hostelries.” Price Rises Firms which put prices up on insufficient grounds, or which' do not pass on to the consumer any fall in the prices of their raw materials, can expect firm action by the Price Tribunal. As a result of a new policy implemented by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Holloway) the full operation of Drice control has been avoided. In a system which he calls “price control by persuasion,” Mr Holloway is advised of any proposed or actual price rises. If there seems any doubt about the fairness of the rise, Mr Holloway and his officers discuss the position with the industry concerned. The usual outcome is that the industry is asked to have another look at the matter—with the suggestion that if things are not adjusted the Government has the power to bring in price control.

The results have been remarkable. Mr Holloway is impressed by the number of firms who have, tackled the problem sincerely, who have been .able to keep prices down or to reduce a rise already made. His main concern has been to watch the prices of foodstuffs and essential commodities, and to keep local production costs down.

He confesses failure in the fish industry. When a glut of fish followed the reduction of purchases by Australia, he suggested that fishermen and merchants should drop their prices. They did so; but in certain areas, notably Wellington, that price decrease was not passed on by the retail trade.

A strong likelihood exists that the fish trade is due for an unpleasant surprise. The imposition of price control would ensure that fish prices would be more closely related to production costs, say departmental officers—and- less - fish would be allowed to waste.