POLITICAL POINTS

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 13

POLITICAL POINTS

THE DAY'S WORK

[From Our Parliamentary Keportie.}

WELLINGTON, February 25. There was a brief sitting of the House of Representatives this afternoon, and an adjournment out of respect to the six deceased legislators, whose public services were put on record. The mover and seconder of the Address-in-Reply motion in the evening set a good example to the House in a brevity which _ enabled the proceedings to end within an hour. Sir Holland, Leader of the Opposition, will resume the debate at the morning’s sitting, and in Government circles there is nope that the whole business will end by Wednesday. The plainest of hints that expedition is required was given by the Prime Minister’s announcement of the prompt introduction of the Arbitration Act Amendment, and he also stated den-, nitely that no private members’ Bills would be given consideration this session. Another point indicating strict adherence to the economic programme is that select committees are not to be constituted for the short session. Mr Murdoch (Marsden), the chief ' Government Whip, who moved the formal motion opening the debate, gave an interesting account of his impression of the new unemployment relief policy, involving the utilisation of more workers ,on drainage and land reclamation. He resisted the Opposition’s invitations to disclose in advance the proposed .financial basis for the extension of relief schemes. Mr Bitchener, the only other speaker, : dealt concisely with the economic position of land producers, contending that ■only 23 million acres out of the 43 inillionE'in use in the dominion were being utilised at a profit, the remainder being a dead loss, even if held free of charge. An interesting personal touch was provided in his explanation that, while the mover of the Address-in-Reply motion in New Zealand was V the member for Waitaki, it was a former resident in his electorate, the Hon. Mr Flint, who had performed a similar duty recently in the English House of Coinmons. * * * .* COUNTY RATEPAYERS AND PENALTIES. A Tequest was made by Mr Nash . (Palmerston North), speaking for ‘several other colleagues, for the introduction of the legislation to enable all ratepayers to have the 12J per cent, special rebate credited to them by county councils. The member pointed out that failure to pay, meant that the ratepayer lost not only.his rebate, but suffered the 10 per .cent? penalty, making a total loss of 22J per cent. Mr Langstone (Labour): It was only a vote catcher. , Mr Coates (Minister of Works) replied that this matter had been under • consideration for some time, but he must admit that he was unable to Bug gest a method of giving effect to the suggestion. “The local authorities,” . he added, “have the'matter pretty well in hand, and a search of their own legislation, I believe, will to some extent *give the relief the member is seeking.’’ , * * * * ECONOMY AND ECONOMICS. The Prime Minister assured Mr Nash (Hutt) in the House that immediately' the reports of the Economists’ Committee and the Commission on Economies are available they will be presented to Parliament. ‘ Mr Nash also desired the Government to obtain from the Associated Banks a statement of the amount of credit which should be available overseas, and monthly statements of the additional credits which will come under their control. _ The questioner was advised to place his question on the ■ Order Paper. • * ■» • ECONOMISTS’ REPORT COMPLETED. The economists who were appointed as a committee by the Government to advise regarding the budgetary position have completed their work; and thef report is expected to be in the Prime Minister’s hands on Friday. Ministers will have the week-end to consider its terms, and there Is a probability that it will be communicated to Parliament next week. ' »** « * * FREE KINDERGARTEN FINANCE. The first of what will be a long series of petitions from the Free Kindergarten .Union of New Zealand was presents to the House by Mr Veiloh (Wanganui) to-day. It asks that the Government, which has abolished the former capita-. ,tion subsidy to these institutions, should continue to provide sufficient to enable them to continue on an efficient basis. The petitioners point out that there are thirty-two free kindergarten's, which require an income of .£5,500, and that in the past half has been provided by voluntary contributions.

MUTUAL TftADE DEVELOPMENTS. “It will be necessary for our repregontatives to the Ottawa Conference to be ready to meet whatever contingencies may arise,” said Mr Murdoch jn the House to-night, when moving the Address-in-Reply. “We may have,” he added, “to make alterations to some of our tariffs in order to give preference to Great Britain, who, in her turn, will give preference to us. I feel sure that the Government is fully alive to the responsibility, and will take full advantage of the circumstances to help to develop the trade of Hew Zealand by assisting Britain to develop hers.”