THE COMING SESSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18742, 23 June 1924, Page 8

THE COMING SESSION.

WORK BEFORE . PARLIAMENT* ADJUSTMENT OF TAXATION. CONTROVERSIAL MEASURES. - LICENSING AND GAMING.

Expectation is general that the Parliamentary session to open in Wellington en Thursday will" be more eventful /■ than usual. :It is difficult to account for this anticipation when the programme jbefore Parliament is examined. Certainly : several of the measures are highly controversial, but/they are also -non-party.; There is no great issue in view involving a real-test of party strength. The recent alarums and excursions of; Liberal and \ Labour members in the country probably account for a slight disturbance in the political atmosphere. But so far it is less a; case of war than rumours of war, and the session seems more likely to. produce a succession of shamfights than a decisive engagement. The most vital question to come before Parliament is that of taxation. The Prime

Minister has stated that he hopes "to induce Parilament to "make very■'. considerable reductions," but has given no hint as to the direction in which relief will be offered.No doubt the report of the Taxation Commission will contain "'definite guidance, and it is expected that its recommendation will have particular refei. ence to the incidence of income tax on companies. The subject, of course, ; opens very wide field for debate, and may be expected to occupy a great deal of attention in the House, ' more especially as.to the nature of concessions.

: ; Motor-Vehicles Bill. The Motor Vehicles Bill is also awaited with ; the interest its ; importance warrants. It ia the corollary of the Main Highways Act, and is to provide for.the maintenance of roads constructed under the Act, the provisions-being both financial and in- the way of traffic regulation. There was an undertaking that motoring interests and local bodies should receive advance copies for ' consideration, and that they should later meet in conference. Mr. Massey has announced, however, that the bill ' will first be presented to Parliament. The abandonment _ of the petrol tax has eliminated ■ a highly-con-troversal proposal, but the uniform license fee is likely to be as keenly discussed. So also are any clauses dealing with traffic- control. The Legislative Amendment Bill, dealing with the electoral system, will be submittd as a non-party measure. It is bound to provoke contention as it touches individual members very closely in their own, constituencies. ,- ProportionaL. representation is the proposal for the .cities and if its effect were not enough in question, there is added a scheme of preferential voting in country electorates. : Nor is there anything ... more ■ calculated to draw sharp lines of division outside of party than a : Licensing Bill. ; Legislation dealing with the reform of "the trade" is expected, bat what it will contain is as yet , not clearly defined. "Corporate control" is a new force entering the lists which may be substituted for State control. A longer -than three-years tenure for.: the trade has been proposed and also the divorce of the Parliamentary and licensing polls.. - : .

.:•;'. Increasing Totalisator Permits.. •The "Gaming Bill is still another mea-. sure which the House must make up its mind about and concerning .which parties become curiously mixed. .'•; It provides for. the increase of totalisator permits by 31 —12 for racing and; 19 for trotting clubs. An important clause sets a limit to the number of times 'the totalisator may be opened during a day's . racing. „. ; Apart from these matters a bill dealing with pensions is expected from the Minister, the Hon. G. J. Anderson. There are indications that more will be heard from the Government , concerning the contributory,' system. The general question has been the subject of special investigation by the Minister during the recess. The extension of export and marketing ' p control to honey and fruit is projected in bills this. session.-V As to the latter, growers are in substantial agreement as to measures for r export control, but the | Auckland . Association 'at least is not ready to apply the scheme to the local markets. .- " y';V^^,.;;v:;toperial; Preference Tariff.' ; ' Bills are to be introduced .to provide for superannuation for nurses, to make amendments in the Dairies' Supervision Act, for the consolidation of Land Acts. There is also a fair . legacy of business from last session.; Thus there; is an amendment of the Police Offences Act, providing means of dealing with, persons unlawfully using motor-cars, which has passed the Upper House. " There are agricultural) banking and State banking bills, which are not likely to meet with Government endorsement, and . the usual crop of private members', bills, • many of which are certain to receive short shift.

i: . Mr. ' Massey has promised \ to submit some remedy for the customs anomaly, which allowed. the . admission of foods to. New- Zealand : at Imperial preferential tariff rates i whose manufacture has been ; completed within j the Empire, ' although these final-processes represent;.; little more one-fourth of the value. Legislation to close this loophole would correct a striking abuse of preference.

CABINET CHANGES EXPECTED.

MR. GUTHRIE'S

Certain Cabinet changes are . expected in the immediate future. . Owing to' ill-health, the- Minister for Lands, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, "will probably relinquish his portfolios. * It is understood that Mr. A. D. McLeod, M.P. for, Wairarapa, will join the Cabinet. ~ , _ , T ;■'