SESSION’S PROGRAMME

Evening Star, Issue 23322, 19 July 1939, Page 8

SESSION’S PROGRAMME

BUDGET PROBABLY EARLY NEXT MONTH NOT WAITING FOR MR NASH [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 19. The session’s programme is likely to take an unusual course. In normal circumstances, as the Address-in-Reply debate is nearing its end, Government Bills should be making their appearance. One unexpectedly introduced yesterday was the emergency measure to deal with an industrial problem which has concerned the Government for a long period. It became law within a few hours, and is not likely to be followed by any other Government measures of great importance. The outstanding business of the session is not legislation, but the Budget, and members will not have long to wait for this important document. There is a general feeling that it is being pushed forward, despite the fact that the movements of the Minister of Finance are still indefinite. It is confidently expected that the Prime Minister, m his capacity as Acting Minister of Finance, intends taking this responsibility, and that, as Mr Savage has already publicly stated no far-reach-ing legislation is required to be adopfed this session, he will make the Budget his first important item, and that it will appear early in August. Mr D. Wilson, who has been appointed by the Government to be the Leader of the Legislative Council, is not succeeding to the full responsibilities of Mr Fagan, who was a member of the Executive Council without portfolio; therefore Mr Wilson, unless he is subsequently given Ministerial responsibility, will not be required to attend meetings of Cabinet.