SESSION’S HIGH LIGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 22367, 17 June 1936, Page 6

SESSION’S HIGH LIGHTS

SIX BOARDS DISAPPEAR HEAVIER MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY [Special to the ‘ Star.’] WELLINGTON, June 16. No parliamentarian of the present gene, alien remembers a scss.ou so crowded with innovating measures as that which ended—only for a breathing respite—last week. More than half the usual measures submitted to Parliament constitute amendments of former law, or consolidation when amendments have reached unmanageable proportions. But last session the Acts were generally new and sweeping in their results. One of the outstanding features of the new policy has been the complete reversion of flic method of delegating some of Parliament’s powers to boards. Six boards have either disappeared or will have gone into the discard by July 1, and this article will summarise the great changes thus effected. First to go was the Railway ]}oard. It had general control of the railways, and an over-riding influence on public works construction, for no railway which had been suspended could be completed, nor could any new venture of that kind be undertaken without a favourable recommendation from the Railway Board. It is replaced by the Minister of Railways, who, according to the Government Railways Amendment Act, 1936, will exercise control over the department, having under him a General Manager of Railways, who, under the control of the Minister, is charged with the administration of the railways. The public works functions pass, more by inference than direct statutory authority, back to the Minister of Public Works. The Unemployment Board is replaced by the Minister of Employment, and a reorganised Department of Labour enables the Minister to delegate to suitable officials the functions he may exercise under the Employment Promotion Act of 1936. On July 1 the Mortgage Corporation Board goes out of existence, the organisation being now the State Advances Corporation. Private shareholders’ capital is being repaid, and the control of the department passes to the Minister of Finance and a Board of Management. comprising the two managing directors of the_ corporation (no change in personnel is involved), one or more directors appointed by the Government, and a Treasury officer ex officio. The Executive Commission of Agriculture finds its powers taken over completely by the Minister of Marketing, with authority to delegate any of them. In a legal sense, the Executive Commission has disappeared. One of its members, Mr 6. A._Duncan, is ActingDirector of Marketing, and he has associated with him in the organisation of this important new department his two colleagues of the commission. The final authority on transport licensing being now the Minister of Transport (Hon. R. Semple). there is no Transport Co-ordination Board or Central Licensing Authority. July 1 will see the last of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, which twice in its existence has been remodelled. The future administration of radio broadcasting is a matter of Ministerial responsibility, and it is expected that a Minister of Broadcasting (in terms of the latest Broadcasting Acfi will be appointed, having under his direction a Director of Broadcasting, and, if deemed necessary, an advisory council of not more than five persons, appointed by the Government. LARGER CABINET NEEDED. When six important boards cease to exercise administrative functions, there is necessarily a great transference of work to the Ministers who take their places. Labour has a hard-work-ing Cabinet, which is not permitting itself a moment’s rest because the parliamentary session is over for the /moment. All-day Cabinet meetings have been the rule so far since the adjournment, and the Prime Minister has explained that much of the time has been taken in administrative matters. It is intended, before relaxing the pace, to discuss further policy measures and reach decisions which will enable the Crown law draftsman to commence framing legislation which will be waiting when Parliament resumes on July 21 Ministers have probably not realised until faced with the day-to-day realities of their task, how much time has to be taken in considering administrative questions and giving important decisions involving, in many cases, heavy expenditure. On top of this has been the framing of the Labour policy in Statute form, and the burden has grown so heavy that the Prime Minister foreshadows an increase in the Cabinet. It is the general opinion of members that at least two new appointments will be made, but inquiries since the session closed show that this important question has not yet been decided. Nothing will be done without consulting the whole party represented in the House, and when the most urgent tasks of framing the next series of Statutes have been completed, it is likely that a caucus will be called with the object of discussing rearrangement of portfolios and appointment of additional Ministers, it was pointed out to your correspondent by a member of the Cabinet that when the Government is ready to, deal with the matter a caucus can be called without waiting for the resumption of Parliament.