PARLIAMENT’S WORK

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 155, 28 March 1932, Page 8

PARLIAMENT’S WORK

Members’ Interest Wanes MAKING HASTE SLOWLY Much Yet Remaining POLICY BILLS NOT FRAMED (By Our Parliamentary Representative) It will be five weeks to-morrow since the opening of the emergency session, which the Prime Minister considered would last for a month. At the rate of progress being made, it will be another seven or eight weeks before Parliament rises, for only two measures have been put through by the House, and only one, the Mortgagors and Tenants Relief Bill, has received the Legislative Council's approval. An early departure for their homes for the long Easter adjournment was obviously of more importance to the great majority of members than the business on hand last Wednesday and Thursday. In the end there was not even a pretence of keeping a quorum of 20, in spite of the fact that really Important amendments to the Mortgagors Bill had come back from the Legislative Council and that, if passed in their original form, they would have put a very different complexion on the administration of the new relief law. The week was chiefly of interest because by means of a last-minute rush the Government was able to present another instalment of its policy before the adjournment. Nevertheless, there has been a remarkable lack of life in the House, and for the most part speakers have been addressing rows of empty benches or a large pro-' portion of sleeping members. The Unemployment Bill. Cabinet was working on the Unemployment Amendment Bill right up to the last minute on Wednesday, The Minister in Charge of Unemployment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, read his policy statement early in the afternoon, announcing the decision to increase the wages tax to a shilling in the pound, but the Minister had been making amendments to the Bill earlier In the day, so that it did not go to the printer until the House met. Hence the Government had to fill in the afternoon with discussion upon written Ministerial answers to questions. While members discoursed upon trivialities, sucli as what brand of tobacco mental patients should smoke, the final draft of the Bill was set up and it was brought in by Governor-General’s Message two minutes before the 5.30 adjournment. Even now, however, it is believed. Cabinet will have to make further amendments before it is satisfied with the measure. With only 17 of the total membership of SO in their places for most of Thursday, it would seem that the House even yet lacks the will to work. A solitary member sat for a time on the Government cross-benches, which ordinarily accommodate 35, but he finally moved over for the companionship of the nine behind the Ministerial seats. Labour’s strength fell away to seven at one stage, and this poor attendance led to a moment’s excitement when tjn amendment to the Mortgagors Bill was forced to a division. The Government escaped a reverse by one vote, much to the Opposition’s amusement, the smallest division in years taking place when only 25 went into the lobbies. Work for the Cabinet. There will need to be a better management of the remaining work of the session if a stop is to be put to the waste of time. So far the only legislation ready for consideration is the Unemployment Amendment Bill, but Cabinet will reassemble on Wednesday to frame further measures and to decide what parts of the National Expenditure Commission’s report are to be adopted. It will have until the following Tuesday for uninterrupted sittings, and it should be able to complete most of its legislation by then, especially as it held frequent meetings before the rising for Easter. The intricacies of procedure and the complicated forms of the House which have to a certain extent helped to retard headway up to the present, can have no interest for anyone outside Parliament. Thus, the real fact of interest is that in spite of the slow progress to date there is no doubt that if an effort were made the session could be ended In a very short time, even allowing for the opposition which certain proposals are bound to create. The country is waiting to bear the full extent of the extra burden it will have to bear, and the steps that will be taken to meet the present position, and there is a definite feeling among members ou all sides of the House that once the Easter adjournment is over, a real effort should be made to put the rest of the legislation through with all speed. It is considered desirable in many quarters that the introduction of emergency measures should be made as soon as possible, for at a time like this, when the country is endeavouring to adjust itself to a new set of economic conditions, it is naturally anxious to be in a position to see .what general plan of reconstruction the Government is offering as a lead.

Taxation Prospects. It. is problematical whether any attempt will be made this session to deal witli taxation apart from the unemployment relief wages tax, which, of course, amounts to a 5 per cent, impost ou incomes. Much will depend upon whether the session runs ou for any length of time, for there still remains a possibility that the ordinary session will not be held until much later than usual. The financial year will have ended before the House resumes, and the Minister of Finance should be in a position' to budge,t for 1932-33 within the near future, with the possible exception of one or two items.

There seems little doubt that the Government will at least consider a further redhetion of wages and salaries throughout the Public Service, but in view of the 5 per cent, unemployment charge, it might not go as far as to impose another 10 per cent. cut. 'The announcement made by the Minister of Finance last week that the year would end with a deficit of about £2,500,000 shows how ditlieult it is during tlie.se times to forecast with any certainty how budgetary estimates will pan out, and it is very likely that rather than place too great a strain on taxpayers, it will be found desirable to budget for a deficit next year. This raises serious questions, but it can be assumed that the section of the Economic Committee’s report yet to be released will throw more light on a suggestion in this direction treated briefly in the part of its findings already published, especially as budgetary problems will be all important for a year or two.