DOWN TO WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1931, Page 10

DOWN TO WORK

COMMITTEE MEETS

GRAPPLING WITH CRISIS

DEPARTMENTAL EVIDENCE

HOUSE TO SIT ON

[Although it is much too soon to expect definite results from the interparty conference which opened at Parliament House yesterday to consider means of grappling with the Dominion's economic set-back, it is plain that at the preliminary sitting of two and three-quarter hours yesterday afternoon valuable ground was covered in discussing a modus operandi. The Committee resumed this morning, and is sitting again this afternoon. The real work of the conference commenced to-day in the hearing of evidence from departmental officers on financial matters. A briof official report issued by the Prime Minister early last evening sketched the main decisions of the conference at yesterday's sitting, which was stated to have been devoted to preliminary discussion. The conclusions arrived at were announced as follows:— As tho result of tho deliberations it was decided that the Committee should take evidence from departmental officers on Tuesday and Wednesday and later from such other sources as may be determined upon by the Committeo. The Committee will sit daily from 11 a.m. to 1 p,m. and from 2.30 p.m. to S p.m. A proposal will be submitted to Parliament that on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week tho House will sit in the evenings only. FULL RESPONSIBILITY. As was indicated yesterday by the Prime Minister, one of tho first subjects discussed at the preliminary sitting was the scope of inquiry by the Committee and the extent to which consideration of financial and other matters is to bo referred to expert authorities. It was gathered in the course of lobby inquiry that there was a common understanding on the point that Parliament, in agreeing to enlist the advice of experts, was in no way surrendering its functions or its responsibilities, and that tho sotting up of the Committee was not regarded by delegates as an admission of the failure of Parliamentarians to grapple with tho position, but rather as a means of effecting closer inter-party co-operation. It was agreed to call evidence from those qualified to tender it, as being preferable to delegating authority to outsiders whose conclusions might or might not be agreed with by the Committee. It is said that members of the Committee felt that the Commitee set up with the authority of the House should shoulder the full responsibility for evolving remedial measures. The problem naturally arises that if an independent committee of experts was given a free hand to devise means for meeting the future situation, there might be a conflict of party views when the recommendations came to bo finally considered in the House. The Committee has therefore laid down a course which provides for the fullest investigation and which at the same time ensures that the Committee will bo responsible for the framing of a policy. A COMPROMISE. The arrangement whereby the Committee will sit during the day and the House in the evening only, constitutes a satisfactory compromise, overcoming the objection that an adjournment of the House during the Committee's sittings might give rise to a false impression throughout the country as to the state of the national finances. The change in tho sitting hours of the House will not interfere seriously with the ordinary routine, as Select Committees will be able to sit during the mornings and afternoons, as at present, while the evenings will be available for House sittings without embarrassment or inconvenience to any members through their being required to attend Committees. WORK OF THE HOUSE BUDGET DEBATE TO GO ON The decision to amend the hours of sitting of the House is being put into effect immediately. The Financial Debate, which was interrupted on Friday by the introduction of the motion of the Leader of the Opposition proposing tho inter-party conference, will be resumed this evening. Several members are still anxious to ventilate their views, but it is : not likely that the debate will be much further prolonged. The Prime Minister is not likely to make the customary reply; it is expected that bofore commenting further on the country's finances he will await tho result of the inter-party conference. Should the debate collapse earlier than is expected, there are sufficient measures on the Order Paper or in the offing to enable the House to carry on. The Licensing Amendment Bill, which the Prime Minister intends to introduce +o-day, the Trading Coupons Bill, and the Transport Licensing Bill, are the main Government Bills awaiting consideration, while there is also a number of private members' and local Bills set down for second reading and other stages. INDEPENDENTS' VIEWS AN ADEQUATE POLICY FORMING OF A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Some o£ the questions the interparty conference should in their opinion consider were outlined in a statement issued last night on behalf of tho Independent members —Messrs. Fletcher, Bushworth, Wilkinson, Black, Hogan, and Lysnar. "We consider," the statement ran, "that the Committee should address itself primarily to a clear diagnosis of the economic situation, to the formation of an adequate policy or policies to deal with the situation, and the formation of a National Government to put such a policy or policies into operation. '' It was pointed out that prior to a discussion as to the selection of their representative on the Committee, the Independent members agreed upon a formula endorsing tho principle of the National Committeo and agreeing that an Independent member should serve on that Committee, but insisting that they must preserve a free hand to criticise both by word mid action any decision arrived at by tho Committee, whether or not such decision had been acquiesced in by the chosen representative of the Independents. Mr. W, J. Poison, M.P. for Stratford, who was absent from Wellington, was,

tho statement added, ono of tlio candidates for selection, and deposited Ms voting paper before leaving the city.

SCRUTINY OF ESTIMATES

JUSTIFYING THE FIGURES

To-day's meeting of the Inter-Party Committee is to be devoted to evidence from departmental heads, who will be called on to justify their current Estimates, There is au idea, expressed during the Financial Debate, that some of the larger revenue estimates are unduly optimistic, Customs being quoted as an instance. Responsible officers can go before a representative committeo of this character, sitting privately, and show in detail how the Estimates are built up. It can also be taken for granted that the expenditure side of the Estimates will be closely overhauled, and that departmental heads will bo called on to justify their proposed expenditure and make suggestions for further limitations in view of the increasing revenue difficulties which havo developed since the Estimates wero framed. The Prime Minister stated at the rising of the Committee after this morning's sitting that there had been no important development. Evidence had been heard from the Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. A. D. Park). Other members of the Committee convoyed the impression that the inquiry is commencing at bedrock with a, close examination of the basis of this session's Budget and Departmental estimates, particularly anticipations of revenue. There is to be a succession of Departmental witnesses dealing with those phases. Delegates do not antieipato more than painstaking day-to-day proceedings until the- Committee reaches the stage of deliberating. Then, it is said, lines of cloavage may develop, but despite suggestions from some quarters that the Labour delegates are on tenterhooks and liable to break away from the investigation at any moment, more authoritative opinion is that the Labour members are keenly interested in the whole process of the investigation and will take full advantage of these exceptional opportunities of obtaining information regarding tho financial and economic position. A POSSIBLE ADJOURNMENT In moving the adjournment of the House of Representatives this afternoon tire Prime Minister said it was desired tliat the special Committee which had been set up to examine the position oi tho country's finances should have the opportunity of meeting this afternoon. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) asked how long tho Committeo would bo sitting. Mr. Forbes: "It is very difficult to say." • ■ Mr. Parry: "Aro you going to call evidence and keep us here?" Mr. Forbes: "It is not possible to say how long we will be sitting. At the commencement of such an inquiry it is difficult to get to a proper understanding as to what evidence should be taken or what procedure should be followed." Mr. Forbes, mentioned the possibility of tho Committeo deciding to recommend that .the . House adjourn for a period, but members would bo acquainted of any such decision in good time. PROFESSOR COPLAND NOT TO BE CALLED Professor D. B. Copland, whoso name has been freely mentioned in connection with the deliberations of the interparty conference, will not be one of the export witnesses called before that body. The visiting economist called on the party leaders this morning to bid them farewell prior to his departure for Sydney by the Maunganui at 4 p.m. In a brief interview with a "Post" representative, Professor Copland said he had enjoyed his stay in New Zealand, and that his only regret was that it had not been of longer duration. Tn reply to a question, he said he had not heard of any proposal that he should give evidence before the interparty conference. ' NO FIXEdT PERIOD ECONOMIC PLANNING Current suggestions that he is formulating a three-years economic plan for the rehabilitation of New Zealand was discounted by the Prime Minister (the Bight Hon. G. W. Forbes) in an interview with a "Post" representative today. Mr. Forbes stated definitely that ho had not indicated any fixed plan. His view was that if the correct steps were taken now other matters would right themselves as a consequence. "We have next year's finances to look to," he added. "Having used our reserves this year, we havo to make provision to cover the future, and it must be remembered that any economies decidod upon would take some time to be brought into operation, and for the effect of them to be felt. This requires some, planning, but I have not stated that there will be any fixed period." MOVE FOR COMMON PLAN (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) STEATFOEI), 24th August. Discussing the possible postponement of the General Election, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., said that if the Emergency Committeo set up adopts a national plan which all parties accept, and the Government agrees to put it into operation, the parties could not put. up more than a sham fight on tho hustings. It would look as if there was only one programnio possible to lay before the electors, viz., that adopted by the National Committee. Presumably that would be tho only programme acceptable to the country. Mr. Poison welcomed the movo as the first step in a nearer approach by the various parties to a common plan and RAILWAY BRIDGES ■*. STRENGTHENING WORK "During 1929 a comprehensive survey of the bridges throughout the Dominion was made," says the Kailways Statement, presented to Parliament to-day, "and a programme of bridge-strengthening and reconstruction work extending over five years was drawn up. The estimated cost of the five-year proposal for strengthening and reconstruction was £521,000, and satisfactory progress has been made with the work during the past year. The provision of new bridges at Ngaruawahia, Waikanao, Otaki, Oroua, and Whenuakura has boon completed. A number of small bridges on the Thames and Botorua brandies and the North Auckland line have been rebuilt, and on tho North Island main lino and branches a number of bridges have had a new superstructure of rolled steel joists provided and in tho case of others the floor beams have beeu strengthened."