PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 11

PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK.

PROGRAMME FOR SESSION. MR. FORBES' TRIP ABROAD. POLICY MEASURES EARLY. GREAT INTEREST IN BUDGET? With a new Governor-General to deliver the Speech from the Throne and a new Prime Minister to lead the House, the session of Parliament' which will open < in Wellington on Thursday will be mtitiated under circumstances varying somewhat from those which prevailed a year ago. Nominally the session will be the third of the twenty-third Parliament. The first session, convened to decide party destinies, lasted barely a fortnight. The second, and normal first, ran into Jts fifth month. The approaching session, which falls midway across the usual IHe of Parliament, is usually dubbed the "working session." There is a special reason for the Government's desire to hasten the despatch of business in the coming session, as the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, hopes to be able to represent New Zealand at the Imperial Conference, which opens iu London on September 30. He will thus have to leave the Dominion not later than the end of August, after the House has been only two months in session. Shortly after the House meets, the Prime Minister will seek an assurance from the Reform and Labour parties that no adverse motions against the Government will be carried if he makes the trip Home before the business of the session is disposed of. In the present political circumstances, the indulgence of one of the opposing parties would be sufficient for the purpose. Some indication of the nature of the attacks which the Government will have to meet will be given on Friday when the first Imprest Supply Bill of the session may be expected. On such occasions, members are free to discuss all manner of subjects, and opportunity may be taken to call on the Government to give further enlightenment on questions which loom large in the public mind a.t the. present time. Budget to Appear Early. Already it has been indicated that an attempt will be made to curtail the initial Address-in-Reply debate, - which occupied the first month of last session. The Government hopes that the way will ba clear to introduce the Budget within two weeks of the session's opening. That would mean the delivery. of the Budget not later than July 10, compared with August 1 last year. There have already been broad hints that revenue will have to be augmented this year in an effort to forestall via anticipated deficit of £3,000,000 at ttte end of the year. The Budget proposal# vfill, therefore, be awaited with extraordinary interest. It can safely be predicted that the' Government will experience its', first test of confidence on the Address-in-Reply debate. During the recess the Labour Party has given no real sign that it intends to revise its "keepthe Government-in" policy, so that, in spite of a depleted following, the United Party has a reasonable prospect of surviving the first test of confidence. How the Government will fare' if it attempts drastic taxation increases would seem to be a different matter to foretell. Labour voted for the super-tax on land and for the increased primage duty, last session. Is the party prepared to proceed further with Government along the road of taxation 1 On the manner in which the Labour Party decides to face that question the fate of the Government would apparently depend. Position of Railways. Assuming that the Government manages to pass its taxation proposals through Parliament, there will remain numerous other important policy measures which may imperil its continuance in office. A Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire into the working, of the railways with a, view to suggesting ways and means of putting this most important State business on its own feet and preventing the recurrence of progressively heavy deficits. The commission is to report by September 1, by which time the Government hopes to have disposed of the Budget. Unemployment may again be expected to loom large as a subject for discussion. It has been indicated that a bill, lai'gely modelled on the recommendations of the Unemployment Investigation Committee, which reported last year, will be introduced. It seems likely that a contributory scheme, similar to that recommended by the committee, will be included in the legislative proposals, and possibly the measure may provide for borrowing money to initiate the scheme. Transport is another question holding j controversial elements. The bill initiated in the dying hours of last session was dras- • tically revised in anticipation of a hostile reception, and the measure as passed virtually achieved only the creation of a Transport Department. Mew Education Policy. Proposals for tlia overhauling of the education system are also due to appear. A Select Committee of the House has covered a wide field of investigation j during the recess and many will await its j report- with keen interest, if the reconij mendations involve increased expenditure, j there would seem little likelihood of the ' Government carrying its campaign of rej form to the full limits, as it has already been indicated that, wherever possible, departmental estimates will be trimmed. Other Select Committees have been inquiring' into the workings of the Shops and Offices Act and the Workers* Compensation Act, and in those matters, amending legislation can reasonably be anticipated. An overhaul of the Companies Act has also been foreshadowed. Highways matters will also come under review. The Government is framing proposals designed to place more financial responsibility on the Highways Board, especially in tiie case of highways passing througL ridings. Much has recently been heard about a proposed amendment to the Nnrses* and Mid wives" Registration Act. Public opinion, which will probably be reflected in the House, has shown that the obtaining of a measure of agreement on the proposal will not be easy. 4 Future Defence System. The cancellation of military camps by the Government has piqued the public curiosity regarding the future defence policy of the Dominion. In view of the financial position, some appreciable change ' in policy can be anticipated. If the Government's crucial policy measures readily receive the endorsement of the House, the Prime Minister -will be free to leave for London. What effect that will have on the length of a working session which customarily extends into November or December, is not yet- dearly apparent, but the amount of legislation forecasted suggests that, in any case, there will be ample work to occupy the House for some time after the tentative date of Mr. Forbes' departure. On the surface, the political situation has not changed greatly tluring the recess. The change in leadership and the comprehensive reshuffle of portfolios may engender a tolerant spirit among opponents not wishing to act harshly bv a new leader ar.ti by Ministers in new offices. On the other hand it is nearlv twe vcars since the United Party set out or its avowed task of general reformation and the House may . not be inclined to extend indefinite patience to a minority Government.