'COMING SESSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 10 June 1929, Page 5

'COMING SESSION

Although it has the largest following in the House, the Government is not in a position to carry anything contentious through' without the help of one or other of the parties in. Opposition; consequently its hold of the Treasury benches depends upon how its actions are viewed by the Reform and the Labour Parties. In the event of the Reform Party and the Labour Party being- found in' the one lobby the Government’s days. Will have, been numbered, but this contingency is unlikely as the Leader of the Labour Party (Mill. E. Holland) recently made it plain when speaking in Greymouth that he could not conceive of the Labour Party voting with the Coates Party, or vice versa, and he added his belief that the Government was likely to remain in office for, three years. ' If' the Government “watches its step,” then, there does not appear to be any serious danger of its falling out with, the Labour Party, arid the possibility of an early .dissolution seems remote. As the Reform Party may want to give the Government a fair opportunity of showing just how it can carry its policy into effect no very determined effort may be made at the outset of the session to oust it from office by/ launching a no-confidence amendment in the course of. the Address-in-Reply debate. Should a no-confidence amendment be forthcoming, however, it is not likely to be carried seeing that the Labour Party is not violently hostile towards the Government,, and more especially as that party was no unimportant factor in turning the Reform Administration out of power. During the course of the session the Labour Party will doubtless find occasion to talk very frankly to the Government benches, but ito-ean bet fairly .taken for granted that any demonstration which the Labour Party may make will not' be such as will obtain the support of the Reform Party to the imminent danger of the Government. The lines of cleavage between the Reform Party and the Labour Party are so distinct that it is difficult to conceive*of any situation where they would fie, found in the same lobby together. THE CHIEF PROPOSALS As the' Government, - therefore, is in the somewhaF'haqfp’jiiTpQs'ition of being faced with a majority of opponents who are not. united to a man (indeed, political gossip has it. that at least one of the opposing' parties now has some waverers in its ranks), consideration has to be given to the legislative programme which it will attempt. Generally speaking', it may be assumed that that programme will be of supreme importance even though it may not be ponderous. Provision for acquiring estates for the purposes of closer settlement, taxation changes to make up for the deficit of £577,000, and alterations in railway policy will figure amongst the outstanding matters for attention during the session. The question of railways promises to be the subject of transcendent interest in view of the criticism which has been aroused over the Government’s intentions ;to proceed with the construction of certain ' long-distance lines, such' as the completion of the South Island Main Trunk by the filling up of the 76-mile gap between Wharanui. and Parnassus.

There will he plenty of opportunities in the course of the session to review railway policy as it, will bb set- out. in the Budget, while some further authorisations will be required for the construction of certain lines. In addition Parliament will be asked to. adjust the system of railway accounting so as to make it impossible to make up for losses by the transfer of amounts from the Consolidated Fund. In the lastmentioned mattek the Government will seek to reverse the policy - which the Coates Government introduced following on the report of ;the Fay-Raven Commission. TAXATION INCIDENCE In the - speeches which he has made while touring the country recently the Prime Minister has not done more than hint at the”contemplated changes in the incidence, of taxation. , He may refer to the matter more fully in the Budget, which will be introduced fairly early in the session, - but- the details will not be known until the 'Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill is brought down.' The general opinion is that the land tax schedule will be changed in the direction of imposing higher rates in the upper portions of the scale, so as,-to require the holders of large landed estates to carry a heavier share of the country’s financial /burden, and, incidentally, induce further subdivision.

Legislation will also 'be proposed to give effect to -the Government’ programme for closer settlement. Authority will he taken to obtain the necessary finance, to secure more land by raising the existing limit of £1,009,000. In order that the Government may be placed in a- better position to acquire large holdings for subdivision ■ Parliament) -will. be asked to. alter the system of valuing land, as it has been found that under the compulsory clauses of the Lands for Settlement Act a landowner is able to demand practically what lie likes in the way of unimproved value, thus imposing a serious bar to anything in the way of large-scale acquisition. Speaking at Napier on 9tli May last, the Prime Minister-said that if the Government could carry out a policy of acquiring large holdings at a fair value—not upon, the owners.’ ideas of value, but on fair ;productive value, to be 'settled by. : a representative of themselves, a Judge of the Supreme Court, and a board—then they would have not only thousands, but millions of acres available for settlement within the next few years. In addition to. legislation dealing with closer settlement by the acquisition, of large estates, proposals may also he made for setting aside moneys for land developmental purposes, so that men may he assisted to get back on to abandoned farms. EDUCATION CHANGES Another important question which may come up for discussion during the session is that of education, if the Minister of Education is able to make such progress with his proposed changes in the system as to embody them in an amendment of the existing Act. Should his proposals for the unification of educational authorities and the general introduction of the junior high school system take legislative shape this year, they will contribute in no small degree to the .impyl-turice;of the Government’s agenda. The Education Act is

WORK TO BE DEALT WITH GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME ' I 1 IMPORTANT MEASURES IN SIGHT .... ATTITUDE OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES Parliament is to meet on 27th June and it can be confidently " asserted, that from first to last its doings will be full of interest..', for it is many years since New Zealand'has seen such Ja piquant." political situation as exists to-day. ,/ i

due foe iconsolidation at any rate, but as that task is such a huge one it may not be possible to undertake it this'"session. There is one provision in the Education Act which 1 the Minister regards as yrong in principle, namely, that which gives power to make over--riding regulations. It can be taken for granted i that , that provision will-dis-appear as soon us the Act generally comes under review. A • INTERKERENOE WITH BUSINESS, Business interests are in hopes that the Government will do something, this session to remove the handicaps, caused by State interference in business and unfair State competition, and the Government’s intentions in this respe.ct will be anticipated with interest. This is one of the matters, however, on which the Labour Party and the Prime Minister are ' not likely to see eye to eye, and the Reform Party is also interested for it is against some'of i its enactments in this connection : that businessmen complain.' Highway and transport matters will come, up for consideration during the session, for legislation will be' necessary to give effect to the Prime Minister’s promise to set up.-.'a separate Highways Board for the South .Island. The 'master carriers are anxious for a reduction to be made in the heavy, traffic fees, but any proposals to this e!nd will most likely meet with strong opposition from motoring interests who fear an increase in the petrol tax to meet the deficiency in revenue, and from the local authorities' who are (afraid of diminution in revenue. It is possible, but not probable, that- a- consolidation of the Acts and regulations relating to motor transport, in its various " phases, may be attempted. An Act will be required to legalise the setting up of the Transport Department. RELIEF FOR FARMERS

authorities. ) Proposals may be submitted to Parliament dealing with the sale of tobae'eo after hours, the sale of fruit and vegetables, apprentices, and copyright of works used in. broadcasting. SUMMERTIME AND GAMING--It is likely that an endeavour'will be made to 1 continue the Summertime Act, and a private member’s Bill .will be introduced to allow of the publication of racing, dividends and the telegraphing of investments to the course... So far, there has been no word of .a. Licensing Bill, hut an attempt' may be made'again to secure the passage" of;,;a Bill -permitting the reading of Bible lessons in the State schools. The House may also be invited to express its views on the question of the adoption of a universal, half-holiday and no doubt an effort will be made to obtain an, extension of the Rent Restriction Act which expires in August. -•< The platform of the United Party provides for electoral reform to ensure that successful candidates represent an absolute majority by the adoption of preferential voting, ’ ‘and as the Chief Electoral Officer (Mr: G. G. Hodgkins) is now in Australia inquiring into- the operation of the electoral law there where . preferential voting -.is Jn operation,. there is just a ehaheie thifU ’ some amendment of the New Zealand .electoral system is contemplated, but as there does not appear to be any risk of the Government having to appeal to the electors this year in the light of -Air Holland’s declaration that he could not conceive of the Labour Party voting with the Coates Party on votes of noconfidenee moved by Mr Coates, or vice versa, it- seems improbable that the electoral - law will be altered this year. In any case, from the tone of his speeches lately the Prime Minister is apparently quite optimistic as to -the outcome of/any appeal which he may be forced to. make to the country in the event of his legislation being held-up in Parliament, t ......

Apart from legislation two new departures will be made in the coming session. In view of the opposition which has been aroused to the wheat duties,, the Government intends to set up a Parliamentary Committee representative of the three political parties in the House to review Hie Whole wheatQuestion and to bring down recommendations for the guidance of the House in making arrangements in future years. Parliament will also be asked to amend the form of the Public Works Estimates hv adding three additional columns to show (1) Estimated -'total cost of each work when authorised ; (2) total expenditure on each work to the end of the last complete financial year; (3) estimated amount required to complete the work. The object of this change is to enable the. House and the country to obtain some accurate idea as to where it is getting financially with large Public Works undertakings. In the past it has happened that; the cost of a work has more than, doubled the original estimate, but there has been no means of checking the expenditure in the interim. The above, are just a few of the matters which will engage the attention of members, and in the major questions there should he some interest ink debates. What attitude the Legislative Council will assume J towards contentious measures which may get through the Lower House remains to be seen, and if it should prove to be unfriendly the political situation will take on a new phase.

To give relief to farmers in the matter of rating legislation will be introduced to | bring about a new classification of farm lands at present included in'", boroughs, thus- giving effect to" the findings of the Commissions which inquired into the matter of ' rating of farm lands last year. In line with tjie Prime Minister’s announcement at Auckland last week, a Bill will be introduced for the provision of State'institutions for the care of the aged needy who have no one to look after them.” This measure is designed to overcome the .present system of committing certain indigent folk to. prisons as vagrants for- want of some better place to send them. The subject of hospital rating will probably be discussed before the House rises, but this is not to say that legislation bearing on the question will be submitted. The Prime Minister stated at Eltham that he would be bound -tobring this matter up’in the Estimates as local rating for hospitals was he- , coming far too heavy. Replying to. t a deputation a little while ago, the Minister of Health stated that . personally lie would leave no stone unturned *:to give statutory effect to a;fairer basis.of taxation should a system be found which-was in the interests' of 'ajl local