SHORT SESSION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 10

SHORT SESSION

BUSINESS CURTAILED

DEFERRED LEGISLATION

TAXATION LAWS

With the announcement, published today, by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) that the Government intends to defer its national superannuation and health proposals for the purpose of having the schemes examined by a special Parliamentary Committee, the coming part of the session, which reopens on Tuesday next, 1 is robbed of a good deal of its interest. The original intention of the Prime Minister in adjourning last December for a summer recess was to enable the legislation necessary for the superannuation and health schemes to be prepared, and this legislation was to have been the feature of the session. In the absence of these measures, previous ideas about the length of the session will have to be revised. These proposals would have kept the House deep in argument for many days, not so much perhaps on the general principle involved as on questions of detail. NO MAJOR TAX CHARGES. Another Bill that was keenly awaited was that incorporating certain amendments to the taxation law, arising out of the investigations of a special committee appointed by the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) some months ago. The major modifications, Mr.. Nash stated yesterday, will not be introduced this session, though some minor amendments are contemplated by the Minister. This also will cut a slice off the length of the session, because any important changes in the taxation laws were bound to provoke much discussion. Mr. Nash will have a Finance Bill which is not likely to contain any surprises, and in addition he is expected to make an important statement to the House regarding a new policy of extended loans for home-building purposes. The proposal is said to involve certain interesting departures from existing practice in order to encourage building. EDUCATION REFORM. One important measure that is likely to make an appearance is a Bill dealing with education reform, but it is questionable whether it will reach the Statute Book this session. In view of its importance and far-reaching effect, it will no doubt be referred to the Education Committee of the House so that evidence may.be heard. It is not at all definite that the Committee will have finished with it in time for it to be reported back and dealt with before the usual recess, particularly in view of the shortening of the legislative programme. Another Bill that is ready is that dealing with alterations to and consolidation of the transport laws. This is a measure of considerable length, containing some hundreds of clauses, and if is not certain that it will be presented to the House in its complete form. Rather, it is- suggested that Parliament will be asked to deal only with the amendments, which, it is understood, include _ provisions for tightening up the law for traffic offences.

An important document that will be tabled is the report of the Fisheries Investigation Committee, ' copies of which are now in the hands of the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and the Minister of Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser). This is a bulky document that deals with every phase.of the fishing industry in New Zealand in detail, and includes a number of recommendations to the Government. MAY RISE BEFORE EASTER. The general impression is that Parliament will require no more than six weeks to deal with the programme at present ahead of it, and that the House will be able to rise for. the winter recess before Easter." ' . When the House resumes on Tuesday formal tributes to former legislators who have died during the recess will be paid. One of the first items to which the House will give its attention will be the ratification of 22 international conventions adopted by the International Labour Conference over a number of years.