THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1944. PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32460, 28 July 1944, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1944. PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

More than ordinary interest will attach to the session of Parliament which opened at Wellington on Wednesday. There is no indication of an extensive legislative programme but several important decisions have to be made. The Budget, which apparently will again be in the hands of Mr Nash, will indicate the year’s financial commitments and is likely on this occasion to cause a more serious debate than has been heard for some years. Expenditure is due for close scrutiny. While the public will not fail to support such expenditure as may be necessary for full efficient conduct of the war, there has been severe criticism of waste which requires close investigation. Little relief from the total burden of taxation is expected but there are many anomalies which should 1 be removed. Relief from the pressure of the war emergency should’be removed. Relief from the pressure of the war emergency should have given the Government the opportunity to consider tax injustices, although the Minister of Finance himself has seen little of New Zealand during the past year. Another imporant debating point will be the international financial proposals upon which a conference of representatives of 44 nations has reached agreement. These proposals will not become operative until the individual parliaments have approved them. Mr Nash’s exposition of the plans and the policy to which his delegation has agreed will be awaited with interest. Adequate discussion of such complicated’ and far-reach-ing proposals may occupy the House for a considerable period. The plans will have a profound effect on the economy of New Zealand and should be studied very carefully. Mr Nash has the task of explaining them intelligibly to the general public, which will not be satisfied with a “pig in. a poke.” No readily understandable explanation of the plan and its effect on New Zealand has yet been given officially. . Intimation that . legislation giving coal mine workers a seven-hour day will be introduced has been given by the Hon. P. C. Webb. In view of the serious difficulties that have occurred in the coal industry, this measure is certain to produce a lively debate. Another subject for discussion will be the report of the commission which inquired into the defects which were discovered in the Turakina and Fordell railway tunnels. There is ample scope in these ■ matters for debate which will probably be more frank and critical because the harassing pressure of the war emergency has been eased since Parliament last met. As far as legislation is concerned it is hoped that the House will devote its energies to the rationalisation of existing laws rather than to enacting of new ones. The stress of war has inevitably led to a tangle of legislation which succeeding sessions will have to reduce to order.