PARLIAMENT’S WORK

Evening Star, Issue 21218, 27 September 1932, Page 3

PARLIAMENT’S WORK

OTTAWA AGREEMENT AND CONCESSIONS NEXT WEEK [Fiom Qua Parliamentary Reporter.] Wellington; September 20. Cabinet met for two hours to-night, but at the conclusion of the meeting Mr Forbes was reticent as to what was considered, tic merely said that a number of subjects had been dicsussed, but | nothing oi an unusual, nature. No proposed legislation had come before Cabi- | net, and that body had not yet seen the drafts of the amendments to the Public Service Act to provide for changes in the superannuation system, Tior had it seen the draft of the amendments to the Valuation Act to provide for difficulties at present being experiencccl where dissatisfied owners oner properties to the Crown. Mr Forbes announced that a number ol reports would be presented to the House at to-morrow afternoon's sitting. Due to tiie late time of starting the session, all the departmental reports have been ready for presentation to the House for sonic time, and they are now being presented in large numbers. To-morrow afternoon’s sitting will be a short one, only formal business being transacted. In the evening the Address-in-Ueply will be moved by Mr J. N. Massey and seconded by Mr M’Skimining.' After these two speeches the House will adjourn until Wednesday, when Mr Holland will move his no-con-fidence amendment. In view of the fact that there arc virtually only two parties in the House it is now unlikely that the Address-in-Reply will be unduly prolonged, although it is the intention of the Prime Minister not to compulsorily shorten the debates by the use of the closure. He' announced* last week that he would confer with the Leader ot the Opposition with a view to confining the debate to reasonable limits, but so far be has been unable to meet Mr Holland to discuss this question, the _ Labour Leader having been out of Wellington for the week-end. The whole of this week will be given to tlic Addrcss-in-Reply, but it is possible that the Ottawa agreements and a statement regarding the concessions made to and granted by New Zealand will be made early next week by Mr Coates. No date has yet been fixed for this statement, but Mr Forbes indicated to-night that there was every likelihood of having it early next week.