Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, SEPT. 5, 1933. BUSINESS FOR PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 238, 5 September 1933, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, SEPT. 5, 1933. BUSINESS FOR PARLIAMENT.

There is a hint ‘in our Parliamentary correspondent’s survey of business for the coming session that Parliament will on this occasion devote some time to the consideration of measures having no connection with the financial and economic state of the country, and which have been shelved because of the pressing legislation required in more recent sessions. Eor instance, he points out that amendments to the Dominion’s company law, consequent upon its reviety some years ago by a highly qualified committee, have been drafted and await Parliament’s opportunity to discuss them. The copyright laws, passed before the vogue of radio, require modernising to meet the situation created in the. use of copyright music, _ a subject of sharp discussion in Empire countries. These are two of the principal items in the “dammed-up stream of legislation which must flow in on Parliament.” It is also stated that the amendments to the superannuation fund legislation, involving sacrifices by the annuitants and reinforcement, by the Government of the various funds, will again be presented. A select committee of the House of Representatives heard, considerable evidence last session, but its task was not completed when the adjournment was taken. The Bill bristles with contentious matter and it may be that its progress will be delayed until more propitious times. This at least ymuld meet public opinion. Other matters concern the reciprocal trade treaty negotiated earlier this year between this Dominion and Australia and the extension of the Canadian commercial agreement. It will be interesting to learn what assistance New Zealand producers will derive from the former arrangement. Embargoes and insurmountable duties in Australia have reacted to their disadvantage and brought about a very sharp contraction of the' former trade. Australian exports to New Zealand have declined from a peak of £6,300,000 in 1924 to £2,600,000 in 1931, and the Dominion exports have shrunk in value from £3,600,000 in 1927 to £1,160,000 in 1931. Australia still enjoys a substantially, favourable balance of trade, chiefly for its manufactured goods which are sold to the Dominion, while denying our farmers the opportunity to market fruit, potatoes and other products of the soil in the Commonwealth because of fanciful fears of importing diseases. Etom Canada it has been reported that the trade agreement with New Zealand will be extended for another year from November. Mr Forbes discussed trade between the two Dominions during his visit to Ottawa, but it seems unlikely that he lias been able to change opinion in Canada which is hostile to New Zealand butter.

Another matter for legislation arises out of the payment of overseas interest by local bodies in sterling where they hold a legal right to do so, the Government having depreciated New Zealand currency as a policy measure to help the rural producers, while an amendment is to be sought to the Valuation of Land Act to meet the position, of land owners securing revaluations and consequently lesser rate charges at the expense of other members of the community. Of most importance, however, is. the Government’s stated intention to proceed with Central Banking legislation. The Bill was introduced last session and circulated for information, and though it was hoped Ipy opponents that in the interim its sponsors would become convinced that the facilities the Bill seeks to provide are not essential to the Dominion’s welfare, the Government retains the opposite ’ view. Throughout the country much is heard today of currency reform, but very little if anything in favour of a central bank which' also is not favoured by Canadian banking

opinion. It will be hoped that the Government will have its measures for the session readily available, so that as little time as possible will be wasted—waste seems to be inseparable from Parliament—and the country will be spared the spectacle of last session when members discussed matters of relatively little importance while urgent questions were delayed.