COMING SESSION

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 141, 18 June 1927, Page 10

COMING SESSION

IMPORTANT ISSUES

A HEAVY PROGRAMME

OUTLINE OF THE WORK

"I- look forward ■with confidence to a busy and useful session," declared 'the Prime Minister at the conclusion of his recent outline of the programme of legislation for the coming session. f The indications certainly point to the' session being a busy one, but whether it will prove to be useful will depend upon the way members of the Legislature discharge their duties. ' The session -will open on Thursday next, but the Speech of. His Excellency . the Governor-General will probably be : interesting not for what it will contain but for. what it will not contain. ■One of the issues which will undoubtedly come before the House of Eepresentatives will be the action of th- '; Dairy Control Board in instituting absolute control of the export of dairy produce and then having' to retrace its - steps as the result of what happened in Tooley street. Dairy control, in fact, is in for a "washing up," and it is possible that Mr. Holland may allude to ;.this subject in;., a want-of-confidence amendment. Should he do so Reform circles do not anticipate ihat ho will .command any voting support from the ' Government side of, the House, even though there are Kefonhers who may still believe in the merits of absolute control; in other words, party discipline will be sufficient to keep everybody "on sideJ" - TABHT REVISION. One of the principal legislative works -of the session wil be tho revision of the Customs Tariff which, as is always the case, will be a long arid arduous process. Protectionists, Free Traders, and advocates of purely revenue-produc-ing tariffs are all active, and it is certain that a fierce battle will.be waged on points where farming and local "manufacturing interests converge, especially as the farmers have not altogether a kindly eye on high Customs : barriers. The farming interests in the ' House are very strong. A Tariff Commission has been making inquiries during the recess to ascertain where adjustments may be effected, and its report will soon, be in the hands of the Government. Whatever intentions the ■ Government may have of completing the overhaul of the Tariff this session, there is some talk of a petition being ■ presented asking that revision be postponed until a Eoyal Commission has investigated the probable eeonoTiiic effects of any Tariff change. Interwoven with the question of Customs tariff is the welfare of the secondary; industries generally, and it is likely that legislation will be presented proposing means for . the development of essential secondary industries. FINANCE FOB FARMERS. Another question of vital importance which will have to be dealt with this session is that of providing finance for farmers on. a more extensive scale than is at present available. This matter has been raised in Parliament on many occasions, and as the result of urgent representations the Eural Credits Commission was appointed in 1925. The Commission made detailed inquiries in \Squth America, the United States, and the Continent, and presented a valuable report to the Government on its return before last session. Some of •the Commission's recommendations Were given legislative form in the Rural Advances Act, but it -has been urged that the Act does not go far enough and ' will hot adequately meet the' situation. The Prime Minister has stated that what is wanted is a go-between for the mortgagee and the mortgagor, and as he has also intimated that proposals will be submitted to give effect to 'further recommendations of the Eural Credits Commission it is assumed that steps will be taken to set up local advisory committees to assist in the. loan l operations of farmers and to exercise \some supervision over the securities. CONTENTIOUS MATTEBS. A Licensing Bill is expected to figure on this session's programme, but it is not yet clear whether it will bo the same measure as that introduced last year.- That Bill, it will be recalled, provided for extending the time between poila from three to six years if the electors so decided. While such a proposal may meet the wishes of the Trade, it by no means satisfies the Prohibitionists, who, moreover, are anxious to ■ see the middle, or State Control, issue ■ eliminated from the ballot-paper. The Prime Minister,, therefore, is faced with the interesting problem of how he can frame a Bill which will meet with the approval of two strongly opposed factions. The task is not easy, but then, Licensing Bills are left to the free vote of the House. ■ . " ■

The question of Keligious Exercises in Schools is to be revived this session. Last year, the Hon. L. M. Isitt's Bill was narrowly defeated in the Legislative Council, and since then deaths, one new appointment, and the return of several Councillors to the Dominion have somewhat altered the position. The terms of appointment of six Councillors will expire within a few days, but^it is generally thought that they ■will be reappointed, and another new appointment made, although this last point is not certain. The attitude which the Legislative Council will assume to a Bible-inSchools Bill this session may be doubtful, but it is practically assured that there is a majority of members of the Lower House in favour of such a measure, and it is within the bounds of possibility that a Bill drawn on the lines of Mr. Isitt's measure may make its first appearance this session in the House instead of in the Council. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Last session Mr. T. K. Sidey's Sumy mertime (Daylight-saving) Bill was defeated on the casting vote of the Speaker c* the Legislative Council. Mr. Sidey will probably feel himself in duty bound to introduce his pet lamb again this year, but during the recess the Farmers' Unions have been waging war against the principle,. it contains with a view of persuading members of Parliament that it should be shorn of both its good and its bad points this session and unceremoniously slaughtered. If it comes forward again this will be another contentious subject. Some months ago there was a controversy concerning the principles on which the Prisons Board works with respect to the release of prisoners, and it may be revived when Parliament meets. Something may be heard, too, concerning one or two appointments in the Public Service which have been the subjects of public discussion. Gaming matters will probably come before the House by the introduction • of a private member's Bill proposing the legalising of the publication of dividends, the telegraphing of bets to the course, arid the nse of the" double tote." : The Government, it is understood, is prepared to afford facilities for consideration of such a Bill.' ■ Following on the report of thtj Boundary Commissioners, a good deal may be expected to be heard on the question of South Island representation in the House, and an endeavour made to induce the Government to provide

against the loss of further seats. The system of voting in local elections which was found to be so unsatisfactory in manyxases this year may also eoine under review. Parliament will be asked to ratify the Government's proposal for the avocation of £1,000,000 to the cost of the Singapore naval base, and although the Labour Opposition will perhaps challenge this expenditure the Government entertains no fear •of the result. There undoubtedly will be no end of criticism of the arbitration system, especially in regard to the question of preference to unionists. The Government will bring down certain amendments to the Act. An attempt will be made to improve the Apprentices Act and j, Bill will be brought down to give final shape to the Government's desires with regard to the Agricultural College on which a compromise was made last session because of South Island fears regarding the status of Lincoln College. It is hoped that ill difficulties will be surmounted this session. The House w.ill be asked to alter the present duties on flour, providing for a sliding scale of duties, so fixed that the rate of duty will increase when the price outside New Zealand falls, and decrease when world prices increase. This will be the prelude to. tho abolition of dumping duties on imported flour. . TAXATION INCIDENCE. .Legislation may also be introduced dealing with tho incidence of taxation, but in view of the state of the country's finances and the need for preserving them from undue strain a reduction in tax assessments is improbable. • To reduce the heavy rate burden for the maintenance of roads proposals will be made designed to make the users of the roads assume a greater share of the burden. The petrol tax lias its advocates—and its opponents, too. It is also probable that a Bill will be submitted as a consequence of the report of the Committee of Inquiry which reported adversely on the operations of the Proprietary Articles Trade Association.

Other Bills contemplated deal with education, fertilisers, rabbits, and noxous weeds, seeds, shops and offices, shipping and' seamen, apiaries, chemists, mining, and a number of other matters.

Eemembering that the Prime Minister himself stated'in 1925 that he had n't glittering' programme to offer, no "window dressing" items, and that last. session saw the passage of the chief planks of his legislative platform for this • Parliament, it will be admitted that the Government programme for this year, while not spectacular, will, with the addition of other things not included in the official schedule, servo to keep the tide of political interest flowing high.