The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is -in corporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1936. PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1936, Page 4

The Guardian ( And Evening Star, with which is -in corporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1936. PARLIAMENT

Parliament reassembling this week will set out on an important section of the Labour programme. At the adjournment of the House, the Prime Minister outlined a short but pregnant programme of business involving i legislation for the restoration of all wages and salaries to the 1931 level from the Ist of this month. For that purpose, the legislation will be made retrospective, and in anticipation many have returned already to the 1931 scale. During the recess important legislation has been framed dealing with the readjustment of mortgages, public service salaries, increase of pensions and pensions lor invalids. The organisation of farm labour under reasonable conditions and at fair rates of pay, is another plank in the business programme. There is, also, th e housing scheme

and building programme to be settled, as well as power to speed up public works. A very important subject will be the presentation of the budget, on which the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance have been engaged lor some time. This document will let in the necessary light in the provision of the public funds, and set out the new taxation proposals, which are expected to cover land and income taxes. If any de r eision has been reached regarding reduction of the exchange rate and •sales, tax. the information will be released in the all important document. It may be expected that the reading of the Financial Statement will he put on the' air and all New Zealand being interested, the listeners for the occasion will be legion. The programme of legislation promises to include control of prices to prevent exploitation and various other cheeks to curb any undermining of beneficial labour legislation passed already. Probably the guaranted price for dairy products will be the most eagerly awaited item to he disclosed, and this subject may be the heading tot a special paragraph in the budget. The Government may be expected to do something about defenc'e matters in the session, if it is deemed advisable to disclose details, and no doubt there will be co-bjieration in the general scheme foreshadowed to assist British shipping. The remainder of the session is not likely to be brief by any means, for the restarting of railways and the public works estimates will be matters for debate and close discussion. The members of the Government have now lost the novelty of office, and must he feeling more at home in the new positions of power. With confidence increased, they will go forward with the Labour policy more boldy and some surprises ■niay be in store for the general public There is one aspect of the labour policy which should have, attention. >nd that is with the legal suppression of strikes. Much has been and is being done for the amelioration of labour conditions, but the bargain should not.be wholly, onesided. The public ar« often greatly inconvenienced by these sudden stoppages, apartj from the injury done to employeis. who are carrying out their share cf the industrial bargain To give all a fair deal it is for the Government to protect all sides, and just as i?.e employer is penalised for breaches of agreements, so should there be a definite penalty where employees flout their agreement and force other con. ditions on the employers. If this were don e the action of the Government would be appreciated as a genuine effort to give fair play all round.