TASKS FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 8

TASKS FOR THE NEW PARLIAMENT

Government’s Policy

IMPORTANT MEASURES FORESHADOWED

Session Opens Next

Month

“It is m>t yet practicable to fix the exact date for the opening of the first session of the new Parliament.” said the Prime Minister, Hou. M. J. Savage, when interviewed on Saturday, “but I feel confident that members will be called together about the end of February. If it should be necessary to defer the opening of Parliament till the first week in March, it will be due entirely to the fact that the Government is determined to have its legislation ready for consideration before calling the legislators to Wellington. We have no intention of wasting time, and there will be plenty of work for Parliament to do when the session opens." In reply to questions, the Prime Minister said it was the Government’s intention to put the major planks of its policy into legislative effect within rea. sonable time. “Obviously,” he observed, “the whole programme cannot be

dealt with at once, or in one measure. But the preparatory work on our legislative proposals is now well forward Since early in the Now Year the subcommittees of Cabinet have been very busy in carrying out investigations with a view to the preparation of bills. As things are, I can say that when the House meets, the Government will be ready to place before members legislation dealing with the financial situation, railway construction, public works, and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.” Guaranteed, Prices.

Mr. Savage explained that the prospective financial legislation would include the scheme for the payment of guaranteed prices to farmers. It was the Government’s desire, he added, that, when the House met, members would be able to consider not enly the special legislation the Government had in view, but that the ordinary business of the session also should be disposed of. The Prime Minister pointed out that by the time the Address-in-Reply debate and important legislation had been dealt with, the current financial year would have ended (March 31), and it might be possible to have sufficient business to engage the attention of members until the Budget was presented. There would be no delay as far as the Government was concerned. Members would not be asked to mark time.

Questioned as to the probable length of the first session, Mr. Savage said that, personally, he would prefer that there should be no adjournment after the meeting in February. It seemed to him that members themselves probably would favour remaining in ses sion till the whole of Parliament’s business was disposed of. “Calls” to the Council Soon.

The Prime Alinister also indicated the probability of some appointments being made to the Legislative Council before Parliament meets, but he explained that he was not at the moment in a position to. say just to what mark the strength of Hie council would be brought up.

The present numerical strength of the council is only 26 members—the least for many years. So far the Government, has not de, elded upon what policy it will follow as regard broadcasting, but Hie Prime .Minister men Honed that this question, together with that of pensions, would receive the attention of the Government in Hie near future.