PARLIAMENT BUSY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 142, 18 May 1936, Page 6

PARLIAMENT BUSY

THIS WEEK’S PROGRAMME. TWO NEW AIEASURES. AVELLINGTON, May 18. Another busy period faces Parliament this week according to an outline of the legislative programme given by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview on Saturday evening at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting. At' least two new measures dealing with rents and mortgages are likely to be introduced, and the Government hope to make substantial progress with measures already on the order paper. Midnight sittings will probably be the rule from next Ihursday onward, and it is more than likeI ly that the next week-end recess will be considerably/curtailed. ‘ ‘Some days ago I asked the Attor-ney-General (Hon. H. G. R. Mason) and others of our legal members to prepare a Bill giving effect to the Government’s desire to restrict rents to a fair and reasouablo level, Air Savage said. “At a meeting of the. Cabinet to-day Mr Mason reported that good progress has been made, and we hope to have the final draft of the Bill before us on Monday. In that case it will be considered at a Government caucus on Tuesday morning anu introduced in the House of Representatives that afternoon.” AIORTGAGE LEGISLATION. The Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) bad also reported good progress in the framing ol the Bill to provide lor complete Government control of tlie Mortgage Corporation, Mr Savage continued. The object of the measure would be to reconstruct the corporation on the lines of the State Advances Department, with a co-ordination of ail the State’s lending activities. Private shareholders in the corporation would he bought out by the vjovernment, but they would be treated fairly and would lose nothing by the transaction. ine Prime Minister added that it was not- certain when the Bill would be ready tor introduction, its provisions would probably be explained at the Government caucus on Tuesday, but a possible delay in printing might mean that it could not be introduced beiore Wednesday or Thursday. “The second mortgage Bill dealing with general readjustments on the basis of the guaranteed price for dairy products will not be ready for several uays yet,” the Prime Aiimster said, “but we aim to have it introduced and passed betoro the coming recess.” Mr Savage was asked whether, m view of the fact that the guaranteed price would not be definitely announced until August, the Bill might be framed in such a manner as to enable tbe Government to deal with mortgages by regulations. He replied that a considerable volume of field work would be necessary to enable mortgage readjustments to bo carried out satisfactorily and the Bill would provide all the necessary machinery m that direction. It was hoped to be able to place sufficient valuers in the field to enable fresh' valuations to be made so that readjustments in mortgages could operate concurrently with the payment ot the guaranteed price. TRANSPORT AIEASURE. The second reading of the Transport Amendment Blit would be opened in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, the Trmie Minister continued. The Minister of Irauspopt (tiou. R. Semple) would move the second reading in a speech of an hours duration and would bo followed by a lifemner of tlie Opposition, who would also speak lor an hour. Two other speeches, each of half an hour's duration, would Go given on Tuesday night and all lour would be broadcast. The donate would be continued on Wednesday nignt, when six speeches, each ot half an hour's duration, would be put “over the air.” . (jonsKieration of the 1* actories Amendment Bill would be continued ou Tuesday afternoon, Mr Savage said, and it was hoped to have the committee stages aim tniru reading completed early m the week.