MAJOR ISSUES TO BE RAISED BY THE OPPOSITION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22669, 21 June 1948, Page 6

MAJOR ISSUES TO BE RAISED BY THE OPPOSITION

(P.A.) WELLINGTON June 19. Some of the big topics to be raised during the Parliamentary session were mentioned by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, who in an interview predicted an early protest by his party against members not receiving until a few days before business starts the Havana Agreement for which immediate approval is sought. Mr. Holland described it as a complicated. extensive document affecting every phase of the national economy. The Opposition had split, up the work of its study between six committees. National Military Service The demand for the immediate institution of national military service is to be made by the Opposition, Mr. Holland declaring that if New Zealand was to play a full part in the preservation of world peace it could not leave it to Britain to carry the whole burden. The Dominion, under modern conditions. had lost is former isolation from the rest of the world. The Dominion’s experience of buying goods overseas at world parity, but selling its primary produce for as low as half the price other countries received was mentioned by Mr. Holland. The National Party, he said, wished to do everything possible to assist Britain in time of need, but the present disparity between the realisations for our exports and what we paid for imports could not indefinitely continue. Referendum on Licensing Changes On the licensing issue, the opinion of the National Party was that the people of New Zealand themselves had the right to decide the major Licensing Act issues such as the frequency of polls, the redistribution of hotel licenses, the alteration of hours. Speaking for himself, Mr. Holland said that he disliked State control or communal control of the liquor trade as much as he disliked socialism in any other form. He had heard the term corporate control spoken of quite freely but his opinion was that it was only one of the many forms of communal control. Personally, he believed in private enterprise and in 99 times out of 100 it could do a far better job. “I take it for granted that a special session of Parliament, at which the King will deliver the Speech from the Throne in person will be held during the Royal tour of New Zealand next year,” concluded Mr. Holland, who added that he had not been consulted in the matter. TERMS OF 5 M.L.C.’S EXPIRE ON TUESDAY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 19. The seven-year terms of appointment of five members of the Legislative Council—Sir William Perry, and Messrs F. Waite, T. F. O’Byrne, R. Eddy, and J. Cumming—will expire at midnight on Tuesday. As the session of Parliament is to open that day, that will be the last occasion on which ihey will be able to attend proceedings of the Council, unless. of course, they are reappointed for a further teim.

There is some interest in political quarters as to whether these councillors will be reappointed, for the future of the Legislative Council is at present the subject of investigation by committees of members of both the House of Representatives and the Council.