PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1930, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

NO GOSS OF TIME

IMPORTANT BUSINESS FOR-

TRANSACTION

WELLINGTON, June 6,

The statements of Ministers that, preparations for the session have never heon more advanced than on the present occasion can be taken at full face value. Old parliamentarians are likely to be swept of their feet by the rapidity of events, if the new Gpvprn inent’s programme works out to timetable It has to be a high-pressure opening, with) the Financial! Statement ready for.’presentation within, a fortnight of the assembly date, which is Thursday, June 26. ' A leisurely Address-in-Reply debate will not be encouraged. Members like to take a few weeks over the event, with its liberal allowance of talking time, but they had a good opportunity fresh from the elections last session, and it is hoped that they will agree with the desire- of the leader- of -the House to come to grips early on controversial matters.

REASONS FOR HASTE,

The governing factor' ini the ' timetable is the Imperial Conference. The self-governing countries of the Empire are represented by their Prime Ministers, and on the present oocnsjon tfie holding, of an Imperial Economic Copr ierence’ simultaneously makes the occasion doubly important, But the Hon George Forbes does not intend to start ffbr London unless th^rg is a certainty that he will ho able to attend the; as Prime Minister,. and report back to the New Zealand Parliament in the same capacity. Political changes during ' the recess may have upset the precariously.-bal-anced position of 100 Government, bill this pan only he tested in the division lobbies, and it was plainly evident to those in touch with events after the recent United caucus lor the of the new leader that the party intended frankly to Jac.v. the. lilies .by submitting crucial, .policy ..points .to early, tests in the House.

EARLY • TAXATION' LEGISLATION

As the Budget will be waiting .if members ■ continue • the . Address-ip- 1 iteplv debate beyond a fortnight, it can be taken for granted that the anxiety of the taxpayers regarding possible increases in taxation .will be relieved at an early date, at least to the extent that . within, a few weeks they will know the worst. Ministers are not intending to use the Imperial Conference as a lever for forcing the pace, and for that reason all the most important Government measures will follow the financial debate in quick succession. If Parliament decides that the Dominion should not he unrepresented at the Conference, ' the Prime Minister wiH remain until the controversial points on which his Government’s existence might be imperilled are tested out in the division lobbies.

OLD AND NEW POLICIES.

Tt will be interesting to observe whether the Forbes Government closely follows in detail the programme of the previous Cabinet. Signs are plain that under the new leadership and with circumstances calling for great financial caution with increased taxation, the whole situation is being reviewed afresh. Ministers are asking whether the working railways, already operating at an enormous loss, should be saddled with further heavy capital liability unless it can he shown beforehand that the additional expenditure proposed is going to earn at least the increased interest bill which will be. involved. Parliament will get information to enable members to make up their minds, though the process may involve some serious disappointments to different localities.

UNEMPLOYMENT MEASURES

Unemployment measures' of a more complete character than temporary grants for relief work will be the subject of an early measure, as the Prime Minister will require a decision on policy points, possibly involving no-confi-dence motions, before he would undertake to leave New Zealand for London. This legislation was well advanced when the Hon W. A, Veitch handed over the Labour portfolio to the Hon S. G. Smith. The latter will also have other important legislation in his charge as the Commission on the Workers’ Lornpc usation Act will nave reported in ample Line for eonsideratioii of amending measures this session, and an effort w*ll also be made to deal with difficulties which have long existed in operating the Shops and Offices Act. Sir Thomas Sidcy has prepared a complete revision of the Companies Act and will he ready at an early age of the session to introduce it in the Legislative Council. Much'of this measure has been planned in collaboration with representatives of legal and accountancy interests.

The report of the Parliamentary committee which spent many week of the recess in an investigation of the Dominion’s education facilities is ready for presentation. and will raise another important item in the sessional programme.

TRANSPORT REGULATIONS

Transport regulation was left last session in an indefinite position which is not to the national' interest. Pro-