PARLIAMENT-AT WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 303, 22 November 1937, Page 8

PARLIAMENT-AT WORK

BUSY WEEK AHEAD. DEBATE ON FINANCE BILL. WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. With the pace of Parliament accelerated to a marked extent, there is every prospect of the House of Representatives completing the first half of the present session in good time. The Prime Minister (lit. Hon. M. J. Savage) has stated that he still hopes to adjourn for the midsummer recess not later than December 10 and, judging by the more lively turn that the work of Parliament ha 6 ta.ken, it seems lively that he will not be disappointed. Mr Savage stated in an interview at the conclusion of a Cabinet meeting on Saturday that it was highly probable that the second-reading debate on the Finance Bill, which was introduced during the past week, would be taken when the House resumed after the week-end adjournment to-day. As there is some particularly contentious matter in the Bill, particularly with regard to the payment of guaranteed prices, authority for loans totalling £8,000,000, and provision for the appointment of a special committee to consider hardship claims under the land tax, there is likely to be some keen debating on this measure. Other Bills on the order paper include the Coal Mines Amendent Bill, a consolidating measure, the Electoral Amendment Bill, restoring triennial parliaments, and that hardy annual, the Alsation Dog Bill, which is at thebottom of the list and which, in all probability, will remain in that position. The House will also he asked shortly to consider the Petroleum Bill, which vests in the State the ownership of all oil resources in the Dominion. In the meantims this measure has been sent to the Goldfields and. Mines Committee of the House. During the coming week one day’s sitting of the House will he devoted to a discussion on the Public , AVorks Statement and Estimates. arid, in view of the large expenditure involved in the present year’s programme, amounting in all to more than £18.000,00. there is every prospect that members .of the Opposition will ask searching questions on the Government’s public works policy.