THE SESSION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 147, 23 June 1924, Page 7

THE SESSION

WILL COMMENCE ON

THURSDAY

WHAT WORK LIES AHEAD

COMPLEX POLITICAL SITUATION

The session which will be opened by Lord Jellicoe on Thursday afternoon is likely to prove one of the most interesting and important held for some years. The Government's narrow majority lends to the present political situation an atmosphere of uncertainty" which will keep all parties in a state of watchfulness throughout the whole of the session. As Lord Jellicoe is expected to be leaving for England before December, this will be the last Parliament which he will open in his capacity as Governor-General of New Zealand. The second, or middle, session of a Parliament is always looked upon as a working session. As a rule, members occupy the whole of the first session in finding their political feet; in the second they^ generally pay some attention to passing legislation at a (fairly rapid rate, and in bulk; the third session they spend most of the time talking for the benefit of the electors, whose suffrages, in the ordinary course of events, they will shortly be seeking. In the light of the present political situation in the Dominion who is to say that the coming session' will be not so much a working as an electioneering session? Last session some sixty public Bills were put through, but the session was only a short one, occupying eleven I weeks, the House of Representatives ' closing down in order to allow the Prime Minister to get away in time for I ; the Imperial Conference. Whether the ' coming session will" run the usual time or be only as short, or shorter, than that of last year is purely a matter for conjecture. Everything will depend on j how the Prime Minister regards- the opi position which is bound to be raised to certain Government measures. No-confi-dence motions and amendments the Government may be able to survive with the aid of its slender majority of three —Messrs." .Isitt, 'Witty, and Bell—but if fractious opposition, or what some might feel constrained to call captious criticism, develops, then, perhaps, things may happen, for if the Prime Minister finds that he cannot make headway against "stonewalls" he may elect to follow the example set in South Africa by General Smuts, who, holding that his majority of six of his own party was not sufficient with which t_> carry on the government of the country, decided to appeal to the- electors. A dissolution, therefore, is one of the ; possibilities of the session if the Gov- | ernment is not defeated on a point of principle. Much is sure to be heard about the recent railway strike and the salaries |of Civil servants, and it is ■ said that the Labour Party has a rod or two in pickle for both the Reform and Liberal Parties in this respect. Many members, however, do not want an election | before the usual time, having their own I reasons for wishing things to remain as | they are. until the expiration of the Par- | liament, and it may be that this feeling will spread like a contagion if the Prime Minister makes a serious threat of dissolution. In any case it is almost inevitable that/ the Government will experience a time of perplexing doubts and fears, because not all of the Reformers are guaranteed proof against all the political winds which blow, or are likely to blow. One Reform member whose sympathies, and more particularly his vote, will be watched with keen interest, not to say anxiety, is Mr. F. J. j Rolleston, of I'imaru, who assumed a ] very independent attitude last year on several occasions, and who, addressing a meeting of his constituents on 18th September last, said he found it impossible to look at public questions from a partisan point of view, and that his session's experience had convinced him of the need in the House for men who were prepared to study questions and think out their own conclusions and not blindly follow a party leader. ■ The crying need in New Zealand at present, he said, was for men who would criticise ; freely, irrespective of party, any meaj sures they believed to be against the | best, interests of the Dominion. He would not sacrifice principle for party, but would place the interests of the country before any party. The Prime Minister, however, has probably resolved to keep the decks clear of party strife for as long a period as possible, for when iv Christchurch recently he stated that many Bills which would not be policy matters, but which would be left to the free vote of the House, would come before Parliament at its next session. Among such non-party measures would be the Gaming Act Amendment Bill, the Licensing Bill, and the Electoral Bill. - ' Mr. Massey has already said that financial matters will be dealt with before I the Electoral Bill, but it is expected | that this measure, in fact, all the nonparty Bills, will be brought down-in an early stago of the session.

THE ELECTORAL BILL

The Electoral Bill, or, to give it its proper name, the Legislature Amendment Bill, was circulated before the end of last session, and aroused no little controversy. To sajr that it will do the same this year when it is introduced is merely stating the obvious. For some years past there have been demands for electoral reform, and the House will now have an opportunity of saying what it thinks of the system proposed in the Legislature Amendment BUl—compulsory registration of electors, proportional representation for the four chief centres, and preferential voting for the country districts. It is safe to' assert that this. Bill will not be received with paens of praise from all sides of the House, for it is believed that there are Beforrners who are just as much opposed to its main provisions as. are members on the opposite sides of|the Chamber. As drafted, it is a. Bill which may be said to contain a little to please somebody and a lot to please nobody. Unless by common consent it is amended in many places its fate would appear to be already sealed. The Liberals, however, may decide to support it, in which case if there are sufficient Reformers ready to lend their aid it may go through in face of the opposition which the Labour Party has threatened to raise against it. But it can be taken for granted that the Prime Minister will strongly resist all attempts to force divisions over clauses in the Bill on a party basis.

GAMING BILL

The Gaming- Act Amendment Bill, which was , dropped last year after strong opposition had been raised to it by Mr. Isitt and by Labour members, will again come forward in much the same form us before, but it is thought that it will have a better chance of sur-

vival this time. One of the clauses of the Bill will provide for an increase in l.otnlissitor permits—for racing dubs by twelve mid loi; trotting clubs by ume-

teen. Another provision will be that clubs changing their constitution will retain the right of their permits. It will also be made permissible to refund money invested on a horse if the horse is withdrawn from the race before the totalisator closes. It is probable that the Bill will provide that the totalisator is not to be opened for the purpose of investing money more than eight times during tie day of a race meeting. It is believed that it will contain a stipulation against more than eight races in one day. The question of the division of fields will, no doubt, be raised during consideration of this latter clause. The Bill will contain other provisions dealing with the application of assets in the event of dissolution of a club, a proposal to this effect being that on dissolution the assets shall bo disposed of for public or charitable purposes with the approval of the Minister. It is also expected that an attempt will also be made -to define the powers of totalisator inspectors as a right to enter courses and totalisator houses and demand information which affects their duties. It is stated that an endeavour will be made during consideration of the Bill to have a clause inserted permitting the publication of dividends, and it is also asserted that the Minister may not go on with the clause so hotly debated last year dealing with tresi>assing on racecourses.

LICENSING BILL

The Licensing Bill will be a measure which, although non-party, will be very contentious. This Bill 'will probably contain certain of the recommendations of the Committee which heard evidence m 1922, but it is also possible that further evidence will have to be taken again this year before the Bill can be get into-workable shape. Already the advocates of Prohibition and a twoissuo ballot paper have presented thenviews to the Prime Minister, who has yet to hear the advocates of Continuance. Some different proposal from otate Control may eventually be devised, thus allowing those who favour reiogm of the licensing business to express their views as against its aboli-' tion. ■ . -. .

THE MORATORIUM

Althougn the Mortgagees Extension l^aw come to an end on 31st December, a recent announcement by the Prime Minister indicates that a measure of reliei to mortgagors, who are still experiencing difficulties, will be continued It is proposed to amend the law to enable a borrower to go before a Judge of the Supreme Court in Chambers and state his case for further time in which to ifffc 1^ liability. If the Judge is satisfied that the mortgagor will' bo in a position to recover he will be empowered to extend the mortgage for two years trom the end of the present year, but no longer.

TAXATION

At an early stage in the session the lasatjon Committee's report, which is unanimous, -will come down, and, no doubt, its recommendations will form the subject of keen debate. The Prime -Minister has promised that he will make lurther reductions in taxation this year and, on behalf of the Labour Party, Mr' -Holland lias also promised that deternuued opposition will be made to the reduction of income tax, pending the restoration of wage standards in and out of the Public Service. Here, then will be a conflict of ideas which will be sure to result in the division bells beiu"rung. It is possible that the Prime Minister wil propose the total abolition of the amusement tax. Speaking at Auckland recently with reference to reductions m taxation effected last year, Mr. Massey said that the remission in tea duty and postage, together with remissions on super-tax, income tax on land, and income tax totalled £1.563,000 and he hoped for a corresponding re* duction in taxation! this year.

MORE FOR NAVAL DEFENCE

With the promise of reductions in taxation this year, Mr. Massey's Budget will >be looked forward to. with great interest. The financial proposals this year will most likely indicate an increase in expenditure for naval defence. On several occasion's since his return from the Imperial Conference, Mr. Massey has hinted at the prospect of New Zealand going in f<jr a second, and later possibly a third cruiser of the type of H.M.S. Dunedin, now the flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal -Navy, and it is expected that he will announce the Government's intention to provide a sum sufficient to meet the cost of maintenance of another cruiser. Last year Parliament appropriated £100,000 as a contribution towards the Singapore Naval Base scheme, but as this has been abandoned for the time being at any rate, it is possible that provision to this extent will be useful for local naval defence purposes. Speaking at Auckland recently, Mr. Massey said that New Zealand's expenditure upon naval and military defence would soon be costing nearly one million a year, even if the question of a fortified base in the Pacific were abandoned, because in lieu of our contribution toward the Singapore project it -nwuld be necessary to obtain another cruiser for the Dominion's Division of the Navy. The attitude which the Prime Minister takes Tip is that New Zealand must pay more attention to naval defence.

PENSIONS AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Last session the Minister of Pensions (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) announced that he hoped to bring in legislation this year dealing with pensions and an amendment of the workers' compensation law. So far as pensions are concerned the probelms involved are very complex but the need for a revision of the present system so as to remove anomalies is admitted, although difficult of execution. If a contributory system is embarked upon, or a scheme developed along the lines of the National Provident Fund scheme, it could only be brought into force gradually. A compulsory pension to provide against unemployment, sickness, and old age sounds well enough in theory, but in South America recently the introduction of a compulsory scheme provoked a strike, which forced the Government of the country concerned to alter its policy. New Zealand may not want to follow that example.

Mr. Anderson proposes to set up a committee to report on the "compensation law. with a view of having anomalies removed.

FRUIT EXPORT CONTROL

As promised by the Minister of Apiculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) on "the closing day of last session.- and a^ain just recently,, a Bill will be submitted to tho House dealing with the control of fruit for export. The parlous condition of the fruit industry for some time past has rendered necessary a Bill of this kind in order, it is claimed, to avoid the industry being further imperilled. Similar measures are possible in connection with honey and poultry for export.

HIGHWAYS AND MOTOR

VEHICLES

Among the-important measures of the session will be the Motor Vehicles Bill, which it has already been indicated will be introduced early, and then circularised among the bodies interested, co that am^le time may be given to digest the essential clauses of this measure, which is to provide much of the finance for the operation of the main highways scheme, uuu to make representations." tuereoii.

The Prime Minister has stated that tha proposed petrol tax has been dropped, so it is possible, therefore, that increased registration fees will be provided for.. The Bill will give members an opportunity of stating whether the Government or the local bodies should handle the revenue. At the present time the posit. ticn is that legislation is required to enable the local bodies to raise funds on which the Government contributions can be based. Unless the matter is dealt with reasonably, early in the session, it is felt that it will not be possible for county councils to make their financial arrangements in time to commence work next summer. The Motor Vehicles Bill will contain clauses to prevent the speeding evil, also a provision dealing with long-distance reliability speed contests. It is understood that the allocation of motor license fees between the •«■

two islands will be fixed according to the number of motor vehicles in each. Tha amount which it is expected 'will be secured from the registration of motor vehicles is approximately £150,000 annually, and this will supplement contributions from the Consolidated Fund and the Public Works Fund,, as well as' the money accruing from the tire tax, for highways purposes. ■ .

LAND MATTERS AND SOLDIER

SETTLERS

For. some time past the- need for consolidation of the land laws has been urgent, and this session, following on the labours of a committee set up.by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. D. H. Guthrie), .composed of .Commissioners'.of Crown Lands and the Under-Secretary of Lands (Mr. J. B. Thompson), • a big consolidating measure will be.introduced. This -will .contain, some.i.. bundred^,,i"Of clauses, and during its passage an attempt may be made to have the freehold extended to all endowments. A. report will also-be submitted.'showing what has been done by' the Dominion Revaluation Board in the way of revaluing soldiers' lands and affording relief to those men whoj'although iLtriers," have" got into arrears in' the' paymenf'of their rents. Under the legislation passed last session arrears then owing by returned soldier settlers were not to be called up for ten years, or until the land occupied had been sold, and in neither case would interest be charged for the term mentioned. Soldier settlers who so desired, however, could have their land revalued-and their > rental„adjusted accordingly. Where such a readjustment takes place the reduced rate of rental or interest would operate from July,. 1921, and an additional amount was to be advanced to those soldiers who had given proof of their willingness to makq good. It was estimated that the revaluations would mean the writing off of about £2,000,000,. and eince the' passage; of- last year's legislation, district..,-reval-uation committees have been busily engaged in investigating soldiers' holdings where applications have been made, and the Dominion Revaluation Board has been making its determinations afteß receiving the reports from the committees. • .

INCREASED FLOUR DUTY

Having refused the wheatgrowers' re-; quest- to guarantee or fix the pries of wheat, and having announced that the embargo on importations of wheat is to be removed as from 28th February, 1925, the Government will ask Parliament to increase the import duty on. flour from £2 10s to £3 a ton. ■ This step is being taken as a means of assisting the wheatgrowers who have been, clamouring for some form of protection to assist the industry. The Budget resolution increasing the flour duty will be certain to cause keen debate. „-'

OTHER MEASURES

Among other measures which ar* scheduled to come before the House are a Food_ and Drugs Amendment, a Bill to provide payment of pensions to nurses (estimated to cost £20,000 a year), an. Education Bill for the removal of certain anomalies of grading, a measure for the better control of pests and diseases, a. Coal Mines Bill, and amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The Prime Minister has indicated, his willingness to bring in a Bill for an agricultural bank provided those interested can show him the necessary security. Proposals will also be submitted to increase above the present rate of 25 per cent, the proportion of British manufacture in goods before they may become entitled, as far as New Zealand is concerned, to the preferential tariff. It is thought, as a, result of ■ the Kelvin Maternity Hospital Commission's report, and the report to be presented by the Commission on the Feeble-minded, that legislation will be proposed to euable the Health Department to cope more effectively with the question of maternal mortality, and to afford tha Health and Prisons Department more ample powers with respect to the treatment of mental defectives and sexual perverts. The Public Debt Repayment Bill, held over from last session, will probably come forward again. This proposes to substitute for the long-term sinking fund system a method whereby the Dominion debt-reduction resources may be available to purchase and cancel Government securities aa the market price is advantageous, or pay them off at maturity, and so ensure, an actual .reduction in the Public Debt annually.

LOCAL BILLS

Notice lias already been given to several Private Bills, and it is fairly certain that there will also be a good deal of local body legislation. !. The Wellington City Council is submitting a Bill dealing with the near-by farmer problem, and it- is also seeking to have extended the time within which it may raise loans authorised by the ratepayers.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE AND

SINGAPORE

It is likely that! something ". will he heard during the session about the Imperial Conference decisions and the abandonment of the Singapore naval base scheme. ..Both three .questions will afford members an opportunity of1 airing their views, national and international— everything will depend upon the point of view.