AWAITING THE BUDGET

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 12, 14 July 1931, Page 9

AWAITING THE BUDGET

"STOP-GAP" HEASUEES

BUSINESS IN HOUSE

I When members of the Houso of Representatives assembled in Wellington a fortnight ago for the commencement of the session, the matter of paramount importance which they ; liacl in their minds was the giving of furthor authority for continuing of unemployment relief. The proposals of the Government in that respect having been'passed by the House, it now appears that tho main interest of the session will centre in the general taxation, proposals for balancing the Budget, which will not be presented, according to a recent pronouncement, by the Prime Minister, until the end of this montn. : . ■

The Address-in-Beply debate, interrupted in the. House by tho urgency of the unemployment legislation, is still in progress, and there is.every appearance that it will- continue for some days-rat any rate for the greater part of this week; 80 far the debate, has been practically colourless; "unusually dull" was the term applied to it to-day by one regular spectator from the public galleries. In view of the small amount of legislation proposed this session by. the Government, there may be some ground for tho suggestion that the Government will welcome opportunities of keeping,tie House occupied with, business of lesser importance until the Budget is ready for presentation. Colour is lent to this belief front the fact that thus early in the session the Prime Minister intends to devote time for a discussion on the proceedings of the 1930 Imperial Conference and Ministerial replies to members ' questions. The only.legislation so far introduced, or within Bight,' is the Transport Amendment Bill, an important measure which has already been explained, and the Trading Coupons Bill. "Stop-gap methods of this kind may enable the House to fill in time until the anxiously awaited, taxation proposals make their '. appearance.. I, .There is a possibility that, a-no-con-fidence amendment; to. the Address-in-Beply motion may yet make its appearance from the Labour benches; a caucus lof the party has yet to make the decision. So far.no notice has been given of a want of confidence attack ■ from any quarter, though notice is not obligatory. It will be unusual if the debate concludes without, some such -indication ;■ 0f... displeasure in the Government from some, section of the House but in view of the undertaking of tho Leader of. the Opposition - that he and his party will help rather ttan hinder" during -the present session,^ is very improbable that signs of. definite, hostility will belfortheoming from, the Official Opposition- ;i ■'. - . The Address-in-Beply debate is being resumed in the House to-day,_ and the Prime Minister's expectation,is that it will conclude towards .the. end ot the week If it should be disposed of before Friday, Mr. Forbes intends, to give members,an opportunity to discuss the Imperial- Conference. , decisions. Private members with Bills ,on the order paper will probably have a clay to themselves on Thursday, and therefore it' would-not create great surprise if the Addressiin-Bepty continued into nextweek. -n-n' The.Unemployment Amendment Bill, as passed by the House .of Bepresentatives, will be considered by the Legislative. Council this week, and it is anticipated that it will be passed by tomorrow evening. The Bill will merely bo introduced/and read the first time this afternoon,, but it is expected that We rteinaining'stagesewill be.comp.leted. at to-morrow's sitting! ./ .-> .--. ■•;-.■'-,