PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 296, 12 November 1934, Page 6

PARLIAMENT ADJOURNS

The fourth session of the present Parliament, which commenced on June 28, was adjourned on Saturday until Eebruary. There will be a recess of three months before the legislators are again called upon to resume their uncompleted task. The session has been a most important one. The Government lias completed its undertaking given at the Ottawa Conference to amend the tariff to give opportunities to British manufacturers to compete in New Zealand’s market. It had the valuable report of the Tariff Commission for its guide. Among other measures passed was an important amendment to the Electoral Act whereby the life of Parliament has been extended to four years; while among the Bills not proceeded with was the Prime Minister’s to promote by means of a levy research in wool and more efficient marketing. This proposal met with strong opposition from within the Coalition ranks and Mr Eorbes decided to abandon it. The Monetary Committee’s report which cost the country a substantial sum of money for no good purpose, the Companies’ Commission’s report and subsequent, legislation, and the Native Affairs Commission’s report are other items which promoted a keen debate. _ Native legislation will be dealt with early next year. Of chief importance were the report of the Dairy Industry Commission, and the Agricultural Bill which met with the strongest criticism throughout the country for the extraordinarily wide powers it conferred. When the session is resumed next Eebruary it most likely will happen that there will be amendments to this Bill, and other legislation includes the Companies (Bondholders Incorporation) Bill arising from the report of the Companies’ Commission, and the proposed Mort-o-are Corporation Bill. But for the fact that a great deal of time was wasted earlier in the session by the desire of members to speak on every available opportunity, there might have been no need for the session to have been prolonged. The Address-m-Reply debate was certainly cut short, but the time then saved was wasted in other directions. The Budget debate provides an example.