THE SESSION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4872, 18 July 1936, Page 4

THE SESSION

BUSY DAYS AHEAD. IMPORTANT BILLS. BUDGET PROPOSALS. When the session of Parliament is resumed next Tuesday, members will be faced with just as strenuous a time as they experienced in the first half of the session. Already the Labour Government has gone a long way towards putting many features of its election policy into operation, but there is still much to be done (says the Wellington Post). In view of the visit of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) to England next year to represent New Zealand at the Coronation and the possibility of a later session next year than usual, the Government is anxious to make as much progress with its programme this year as possible, and the legislative machine is likely to be kept moving at a fast pace during the next few months. Within a few weeks the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) will present his first Budget. It will be an interesting document. Already the Government has committed, itself to heavy expenditure in a number of directions, and a statement of the ways and means which Mr. Nash proposes to adopt to foot the bill will be awaited with interest by all sections of the community. Time and again Opposition members have asked the question, "Where is the money going to come from?" and it is now for Mr. Nash to supply the answer. From now on until the Budget is prepared there are likely to be frequent meetings of Cabinet. Taxation Adjustments. The taxation proposals of the Government will be made known in the Budget, and every effort will be made to keep them a close secret until the Statement appears. It is considered certain that there will be important adjustments in the existing schedules but, with the exception of the statement of the Prime Minister that there was a possibility of reimposing a graduated tax on land, no indication of the nature of the adjustment has been given. The possibility of alterations in the tariff is also one that can not be overlooked.

Ministers will also be busy in the next few weeks completing their departmental Estimates, which are likely to be of outstanding interest this year. During recent years careful pruning of the Estimates has been practised as an economy measure, and it was only last year that the brakes were taken off to any extent. This year there is bound to be further acceleration.

Defence Estimates.

The Government so far has 1 remained fairly silent on the subject of defence, but it is known that already there has been considerable expenditure both in regard to land and naval defences. Indications have been given from time to time that the Government is likely to extend the air branch of the defence system, and it would not be surprising to find an increased vote for this branch.

The Estimates in connection with broadcasting are also likely to prove of interest. As soon as the Director of Broadcasting is appointed, there are certain to be important developments, and these may be reflected in the Estimates.

Important Legislation.

The legislative programme for the remainder of the session will be a heavy one. One measure that will affect practically everybody in the community, either directly or indirectly, will be the Finance Bill, which is scheduled to make its appearance next Wednesday. This will provide for the restoration of wages to the 1931 standard, and the resulting increases will be made retrospective to July 1. In view of the possibility of anomalies arising, the Bill has had to be very carefully drafted and it is considered that it will meet all requirements. Mr. Savage hopes to have the Bill passed through both Houses before Friday week, and this may lead to long sittings. Whether the. Bill will be strenuously by the Opposition remains to be seen, » but in any event the Government has a sufficient majority to ensure that its wishes are carried out. Another important measure to receive urgent.treatment will be a Bill to prevent undue increases in the price of commodities. As indicated in a statement by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), the intention of the Government is to set up a tribunal to deal with cases of alleged exploitation, and the Bill might possibly prove • controversial. The Prime Minister has hopes, also, of passing this Bilk before the first week-end adjournment, so it would appear that members will lose no time in getting into harness. Mortgage Adjustment. Adjustment of mortgages in keeping with the Government's guaranteed price scheme will be provided for in another Bill to be introduced in the early stages of the session, and this will be passed before the end of July, in order to have the machinery working when the guaranteed price scheme becomes operative on August