At Least 24 Bills Almost Ready For House

Press, Issue 29236, 21 June 1960, Page 16

At Least 24 Bills Almost Ready For House

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 20.

Though at least 24 bills are reported to be almost ready for presentation to Parliament, it is not expected that they will provide more than a small part of the “fireworks” likely to develop. Parliament has a great deal of work to do between the opening day, on Wednesday, and the projected end of the session in mid-October, but much of it is unspectacular. It seems unlikely that in the early stages of the coming session there will be a recurrence of the Opposition complaints of the last two sessions that “the House is running out of business.”

Prominent among measures to be brought forward are eight which, at the end of the last day of the 1959 session, were listed as at the second-reading stage. These were the Cheques Bill, the Poisons Bill, the Judicature Amendment Bill (No. 2), the Political Disabilities Removal Bill, the Police Offences Amendment Bill, the Milk Amendment Bill, the Education Amendment Bill (No. 2), and the Auckland City Empowering Bill. At that time, also, other measures were being considered by committees. These included the Crimes Bill, the Criminal Justice Amendment Bill, and the Summary Proceedings Amendment Bill.

Both parties expect heated exchanges to arise from discussions of the Police Offences Amendment Bill, the Political Disabilities Removal Bill, and the Crimes Bill. It is possible that of these the massive Crimes Bill, highly contentious in its original form, will be the least productive of argument The Crimes Bill will be making its third appearance before the House. Since last session a great deal of work has gone into this measure, which is expected to make much of it acceptable to both sides. Clauses relating to homosexual offences are understood to have been altered and clarified, but it is believed that those covering the abolition of the death penalty for murder still stand. Grand Jury Abolition It is suggested that either this bill or a separate one may well abolish the grand jury, thus bringing New Zealand into line with British and Australian practice The Attorney-General (Mr Mason) is believed to agree with the previous Attorney-General (Mr J. Marshall) that today the grand jury has no real purpose.

The repeal of much of the 1951 legislation designed to deal with crippling industrial trouble is intended in the Police Offences Amendment Bill. Discussion on this measure could be most bitter, because of pressures by industrial labour on one side, and certain conclusions likely to be drawn by Opposition members on the other Recent Government moves in the freezing workers’, Kawerau, and other disputes are not likely to be forgotten. The Political Disabilities Re-

moval Bill is aimed at clearing the way for trade unions to contribute to political party funds. In some quarters the passing of this bill is considered essential, for it has been accepted by certain groups as a pre-election pledge. '

Also expected from last year’s discussions are a machinery measure to improve the financial management of trades Unions, a measure to register chiropractors, and an Animals Protection Bill. It is possible that the Chiropractors Bill will be quietly dropped The Animals Protection Bill will be based on the private measure sponsored last year by the Minister of Social Security (Miss Howard) New Measures New measures will include Broadcasting Act amendments to allow the setting-up of a. television service and the appointment of a director of television, a bill to authorise the construction of the Nelson-Blenheim railway, and some legislation to advance the development of the Te AnauManapouri lakes system. Other bills are likely to implement previous decisions. The report of the commission of inquiry into the meat industry will produce one. A measure is already prepared establishing a remodelled university grants committee, as recommended by the Parry Committee. An act is also required to ratify the agreement between Australia and New Zealand abolishing double taxation. Select committees which have been studying local body structure and liquor licensing reforms are on the point of producing reports which may be translated into legislation. The committee on West Coast development has already produced its report, but it is not known whether the Government is likely to take legislative action on it this session. Other measures known to be on the way include consolidation of the Education Act and the Transport Act, a bill on fertilisers, and a measure controlling the operations of unit investment trusts. Many other proposals have been considered, but are as yet in the stage of early preparation.