PARLIAMENT SUMMONED

Hawera Star, Volume L, 17 February 1931, Page 5

PARLIAMENT SUMMONED

SUBJECTS FORI DISCUSSION;,

COVERNAIENT’S BIG PROGRAAIME lliy Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 16. By a “Gazette Extraordinary” issued this evening Parliament has. been summoned for the transaction of business on Wednesday, Alarch .11, at 2.30 p.m. The special session is. likely to last for many weeks- judging by the pro-, gramme which the Government proposes to submit for consideration. Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said it was proposed to ask Parliament to deal with all the proposals outlined in his statement, with the ex ception of those relating to taxation Air Forbes stated that the Govern ment did not intend to make any in; creases in taxation until the norniai session in June, as not until then would, the exact result of the year’s working be known. “Every other proposal which requires legislation will be submitted to members at the emergency session, however,’.’ he said. “Legislation will be necessary to bring about the reduction of 10 per cent, in the salaries of servants of the State and also to give the Arbitration Court power to review existing awards. “The proposal to place the control of the railways in the hands of a nonpojiitiidal (board will also require an amendment of the Railways Act. The suggestion has been made that this change should be deferred until the ordinary session, but the Government believes the alteration to be essential now in order to secure the necessary adjustment of the department’s finances.”

Any doubt as to the attitude which Labour would adopt towards the Government’s programme has been removed by the statement issued by Air H. E. Holland, and it is considered certain that all the Government’s proposals, apart from those in connection with the earthquake disaster, will be bitterly opposed. It is expected that a caucus of * the Labour Party will be held -at Wellington this week, but- the secretary of the party, Air W. Nash, AI.P., stated that no date was yet' fixed 1 .