BUSY TIME AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 12

BUSY TIME AHEAD

EXPECTATION OF KEEN DEBATES

LEGISLATIVE FLAWS

REMEDIAL MEASURES

Though nothing, of a sensational nature in the way of legislation is expected to emerge from the first part of the session which opens tomorrow, public interest in Parliamentary proceedings is likely to be particularly keen. Indications are that they will be far from dull. With its forces better organised,, the Opposition is "bound to make itself more articulate than it was last session, and with the tenseness in the political atmosphere tliat has become apparent of recent months, some entertaining developments may be anticipated when the house settles down to a serious examination of the business before it.

•The heavy programme of industrial and.social and other reforms launched by the ; Labour Government in its first session last year has now had time to take effect, and during the recess its operation has revealed certain weaknesses. The Government itself did not expect that it would produce a flawless product at once, and in order to bring these measures into stricter'alignment with its policy and intention, the Government will have to correct these shortcomings. The Opposition is not likely'to let slip the opportunities thus provided of making political capital.

■ Among.the matters that will require readjustment is the apprenticeship law in, so: far: as it is affected by the basic w^ge. The Government has already indicated that there would: be some relaxation here, and early attention to this question is probable. Of more urgent concern in the' industrial • field is the'amending Bill that will be necessary to, correct the situation that has arisen as a result of the Appeal Court's decision,in the clerical workers' case. The Court's ruling was that the word "industry" should apply to the industry in: which the employer and employee were engaged, and legislation will be required to widen the scope of its application. The Prime Minister (the Kt. Hon. M. J. Savage) has made it clear that legislative action would be taken to put the position right. Another matter that will require early attention'is the necessary authority for the continuation of the Fair Bents Act, which expires at the end of this month. These will all provide the Opposition with talking points, but probably the most argumentative topic of all will be guaranteed prices, and when this question comes up for consideration things,will move along at. a brisk tempo, as the controversy outside the House is bound to be renewed with some vigour inside. PRESENTATION OF BUDGET. •The big'- event of the sessiori, from everyone's point of view, will be the presentation of the Budget by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash). It is likely to prove a highly interesting document, though not the surprise packet that Mr. Nash's first Budget proved to be. Of chief interest is the.question of taxation, and speculation as to what is to be asked in the way of direct taxation is understandably keen. The fact that Mr. Nash has had a taxation revision committee working during the recess—the committee's report has been in the hands of the Government for some time— coupled with the statements made by the Prime Minister about the incidence of taxation being wrong, is regarded as highly significant, and there is a feeling that some change in the impact of income taxation is contemplated. Whatever happens, there does not appear to'be any room for any further all-round increase in taxation. Last year the taxation revenue reached a record figure, the total sum received from all sources being £31,164,000, or £•5,700,000' more than the previous year; while the taxation per head reached a new high level at a 2ew shillings short of £20. It is known that the .rank and file of the Labour members do not want high taxation, particularly in view of the Labour Party's election undertaking in 1935 that there would.be no increase. The Public Works Statement is another, paper, that is of national interest, and this is likely to make its appearance early. The exceptionally active public works policy inaugurated by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. E. Semple) last year will make the country keen to see what he proposes during the coming year. Ministerial visits abroad will produce some readable statements in the House. The outcome of the Imperial' Conference discussions, particularly on matters of Empire defence, will be deait with by the Prime Minister, while Mr. Nash must have a bulky book of notes concerning his trade negotiations With the various countries he visited, judging by the small library of pamphlets'and books and weighty files he brought back with him. NATIONAL DEFENCE. In view of the international situation, the question of defence will be an important one. Action already taken by the.Government in the formation of a National Security Organisation, in the reorganisation of its land forces, and in the strengthening of its naval and ->ir Arms, indicates that it is fully alive to the position. Of purely national-interest are the reforms that are likely to be introduced in the education system as a result of the Recess Committee's investigations and recommendations. In its consideration of the question the Committee, of which Mr. C. Carr, M.P., is chairman, is using the Atmore Report as a basis. The Fisheries Commission, under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Thorn, M.P., which has been, investigating the industry throughout the Dominion, is now ready to prepare its report, which is expected to be presented to the House about the end of next month. .

From the point of view of legislation, the Bill incorporating the Government's national health insurance and superannuation schemes will be the magnum opus of the session. This is not due to make its appearance until after the Christmas recess, and in the meantime the task of collecting and sifting the huge amount of material out of which to fashion a suitable scheme is continuing. Among other important Bills to be introduced will be a State Advances Bill, which will be designed, by making advances on a more liberal scale, to enable people \vho want homes to build them, the Prime Minister stated today. He also indicated that there would be a Bill arising out of the re- j port of the Recess Committee on Education, and a number of agricultural measures. The report of the committee of in-. . quiry into the marketing of fruit and| I vegetables will also be the subject of i legislation, and some amendment to

j the transport legislation is likely to be made as a result of the findings of the Committee that inquired into the taxicab and town-carrier business. It is understood, too, that there \vi 1 be an amending measure dealing with the question of land valuation, and that a Bill of Interest, to surveyors will be introduced. A consolidation ot tne mining laws is also to be made, and legislative authority will have to be obtained for the establishment of the recently-announced Council of Defence, Air Board, and Army Board.

LOCAL BODY AMALGAMATION.

No decision had been reached at mid-day today as to when the Local Bodies Amalgamation Bill, which was circulated at the end of last session, will be introduced. A caucus of Government members spen. all this morning in' discussing the measure, and discussion was unfinished at the luncheon adjournment. "We have heard the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) and a number of members speak on it," said Mr. Savage, "and the discussion will be resumed this afternoon." At the recent conference of county councils in Wellington the proposals in the Bill were considered, and the conference decided to ask' for a thorough inquiry with a view to ascertaining on broad lines what functions could best be discharged by national government and what best could be carried out by local government.