LABOUR CAUCUS

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1938, Page 5

LABOUR CAUCUS

To-morrow’s Meeting IMPORTANT LEGISLATION FOR CONSIDERATION. WELLINGTON, February 7. 'lmportance is attached in political circles to the Labour caucus which will be held in Wellington on Thursday So far, full details of the programme for members are not available, but it is certain that the major items to be discussed will be the. national superannuation and health insurance schemes and the Government’s taxation revision proposals. Of course, the schedule of major items will be extensive, but ao far it is too soon to enter on a forecast of the full range of discusion. It is expected that at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday some finality will be reached with the superannuation plan and that by then it will be in a form complete enough to submit to the caucus. The health section of the plan, having far wider ramifications and being of much more importance generally, will apparently be delayed, but as the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) indicated in an interview this evening, the superannuation section should be ready for submision to this coming caucus. TO LAST SEVERAL DAYS. All sorts of interesting conjectures are being made about the duration of the caucus, Members of the rank and file of the party are stated to hold the opinion that this meeting of the caucus should be the major meeting for this coming session and that all the legislation likely still to be discussed by Parliament should be placed before it. In fact, it has been definitely suggested that this should be the only caucus of the Government party held during this part of the year, at least until after the winter recess. However, from what the Prime Minister said this evening, such a .proposal* does not seem practical. Mr Savage believes that this coming caucus will last at least a few days; in any case, arrangements are being made in Parliament Buildings for catering for the members of the Govevrnment for some days. (It does seem however, that the coming caucus will be one of the most interesting held during the regime of the present Government, particularly since it will involve a decision on plans for the national Superannuation and health scheme. It has not yet been decided whether this caucus will be asked to consider as well the far-reaching- proposals in view for changes in the Education system, some of which have already been outlined In "The Press.” '