PROGRESS IN PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20385, 14 October 1929, Page 13

PROGRESS IN PARLIAMENT

" ONE GOOD DEED" DONE.

LENGTH OF THE SESSION.

WORK YET TO BE FACED.

LABOUR AND THE GOVERNMENT.

[RY TELEGRArH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Sunday.

Parliament kept to main issues and worked hours 'that woro more or less normal in tho week just concluded. For •hose regulated labours thore wero tangible results to show as those who roso this morning stifling the yawn of tho sleep deprived them will know. Indeed today is a notable date a3 110 longer can tho charge bo justly laid against tho Government that it has failed to carry out ono single poiicy proposal. The clocks of tho countryside, advanced by half an hour to-day, proudly proclaimed tho achievement. Taxation may bo. increased, workers and settlers may be disappointed in tho hopes they had of cheaper money, tho grandiose promises, of a year agono may taunt tho consrienre of a Government of manifold pledges, but at least thero is this op» good deed of summer time shining like a candle in a naughty political world.

In truth last week was one of doublo achievement for in addition to tho passing of the Summer Time Bill tho llouso of Representatives also put through all stages the Land Laws Amendment Bill after a committee discussion lasting two days. In spito of its 45 clauses tho measure contains littlo that is new. Its mainspring is the giving of authority to borrow up to five million pounds for the settlement of undeveloped Crown and settlement lands, for tho promotion of which a lands development board is to be established. It was around tho constitution of that board, originally intended to comprise tho Minister of Lands, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, and six departmental/ officers, that tho chief criticism centred, and yielding to the pressure of opinion, Mr. Forbes agreed to arrange for the. personnel to be, revised limiting the membership to himself, two departmental heads and ono other practical farmer. Land Settlement Question. Equipped with tho powers desired it now remains to bo seen how tho Minister will set about his task of increasing settlement.,, Ho has said on numerous occasions that ho looks to tho idlo lands within tho Auckland provincial borders to provido the greatest scopo for now settlement. Ho is favourably impressed with the area in the King Country, as he reiterated to a deputation from that district only last week. Whether tho pumice lands will bo developed on an extensive seals it is too early to predict, but a trial block 6f that land is to bo experimented with. Tho Minister has yet to investigate the possibilities of further settlement in North Auckland, an area ho intends to visit during the approaching recess.

Monday sittings, presaging tho end of the session, were introduced this week, but the House did not meet until the evening, and the sitting lasted only three hours. The same course is to bo followed to-morrow, but another thin House is probable* as tho week-end exodus was as usual. Just how much longer the session will last is uncertain, but it seems likely that it holds three or four weeks more of life. Owing to tho indisposition of tho Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, it is reliably reported that the Government is anxious to hasten the close, but there is reason to suspect that Opposition members will hold to their earlier intention to remain in session until the expiration of another three weeks, when the Prime Minister's promise to find work for all who want it'is duo for complete fulfilment. No Lack of Essential Work.

In any case there is no lack of essential work ,©n the Parliamentary stocks. The Railways Statement is to be considered on Tuesday and a long debate is anticipated. Then the committee stage of the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill has been delayed because of tho Prime Minister's illness and that matter will probably account for a day's discussion or more. The committee bearing evidence on the Transport Laws Amendment Bill is striving to complete its task during tho coming week so tnafc its report may bo presented about Friday and that will provido yet another contentious discussion. No hint has been given yet as to when the Public Works statement and tho Supplementary Estimates are to bo considered. It seems hopeless, therefore, to expect an end to the session until the first or second week in November at tho earliest. In addition the Estimates have not been finalised. The Houso spent two days on their discussion in the past week and approved only five further classes, but tho back of that business has now been broken and another day or so should suffice to complete tho Estimates. United Party Troubles.

The general political position has not perceptibly altered during the past week. For the last month Parliament Buildings has rivalled a troopship in its wealth of r'uniour, but the real position seems to be tlMt no one knows wha% an hour or a day may bring forth. Tho most significant happening of the week was the outspoken comment of Mr. A, E. Davy, chairman of thu pominion Executivo of the United Party, on the action of three members of his executive in trying to reprimand him on his ( newspaper controversies with certain Labour members. Mr. Davy s observation that rebukes seem to have become the order of the day in the United Party can refer only to the action of the Prime. Minister in disavowing the utterances of his Ministers on a number of subjects and the course the Prime Minister will follow when he is able to place his band to the helm onco more will be interesting to watch. The Labour Party in Parliament has become suspect because of its flirtation with the flovernmenf, and the action of the Leader, Mr. H. E. Holland, in movin£ an amendment, to reduce the and Telegraph Estimates, and later withdrawing, was taken full advantage of by at least one Reform member, Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames), who taunted Labour with being afraid of embarrassing the Government. Tt would, perhaps, bo uncharitable to accuse Mr. Holland of having an alliance with the Government, but recent events have indicated the existence of a working arrangement, concerning which all tho members of tho Labour Party are said not to be in agreement. However, to outward view the Labour Party shows a united front and tliß merest suggestion of disagreement in the ranks/is sufficient to produce an official denial.