WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20669, 15 September 1930, Page 11

WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

SESSION NEAIMNG END. fate of several bills. INQUIRY INTO RAILWAYS. DUPLICATION OF EFFORT. TELEGHAI'H. SPKC'IAT. TtF.rOFITER.] \\ ELLINGTON, Sunday, Eleven weeks of Iho session have fled and threo more will probably sulFico for tho disposal of (ho business remaining. Tlio Government hoped to end tho session by the closo of September at the latest, but it now appears that there is a prospect of early October being reached before the end comes. It seems that, the Government intended to drop any bills that wero likely to bo contentious, but that proposal may be reconsidered in gome respects.

For instance, a deputation came to the Voting-Prime Minister, Hon. E. A. Ran»om, during tho week and inquired as to the whereabouts of tho Transport Bill. It was then made plain that tho Government had proposed to dodge an awkward issue by tho easy method of introducing no such bill this session, but tho protest registered extracted a promise that the decision would be reconsidered. Department of Transport.

The United Government, shortly after its ndvent to power, created a portfolio of Transport, with a department to match. A bill was later introduced to provide tho machinery with which tho department was to function, and a select committee hoard lengthy evidence on the subject. It was not until tho dying stages of tho session that the bill again appeared in tho House, and beforo any active opposition had been expressed tli'o Hon. W. A. Vcitch, who was then Minister of Transport, dropped tho main bill and satisfied himself with a measure •which did little more than confirm the jetting up of tho department.

Of conrso, it is nut unusual for contentious legislation to l>e introduced one session and then to be deferred until the next, in order to allow full representations on the subject to be heard in tho recess, but unless pressure is brought to bear on the Government another session will pass and this new department of State will still not have tho means for full functioning. The week just past witnessed the passing of the Unemployment Bill, but it was only after pressure had been applied by the Government that the llouso at long last let tho measure through. A highly interesting situation was created when the Leader of tho Labour Party, Mr. 11. E. Holland, moved tho recommittal of the bill. That action was a gesture made necessary by the militant Labour hostility outside the House to tho flat tax levy, but the method chosen to register this demonstration of protest nearly proved embarrassing to tiio Labour Party. Defeat Causes Belief. The members on the cross benches were most obviously perturbed when it was indicated that a section of the Reform Party would support tho recommittal proposal, although on a different ground, and Mr. Holland was immensely relieved to see his motion defeated by 35 votes to 25. Another contentious Government bill ■was lengthily debated later in < ho week. This was the Nurses and Midwives Registration "Amendment Bill, which proposed to permit the, recognition of private hospitals as training schools for nurses, subject to certain definite conditions. A bill ori the subject was introduced toward the close of last session, but it was more or less a kite to ascertain which way the wind was blowing. This year's bill has been substantially amended by the Health Committee.

The main safeguard proposed is that a private hospital cannot be approved as a training school unless it provides at least 40 ''public" bods, that is, beds for occupation by patients receiving nursing and hospital service free, or lot' an inadequate charge. It is believed that the larger private hospitals, which nro particularly interested in the< bill, are satisfied to comply with that proviso. Much lobbying has been rlono in connection with the bill, and it'is stated on reliable authority that the prospects of its passing both Houses are bright. Defeat Thought Unlikely.

Some little time ago it was thought Iho bill might not pass tho Legislative Council, but since tho proposals have boon substantially remodelled there is believed to be little possibility of the bill being defeated there.

flood progress was made by the Ilouse last- week in dealing with private members' bills at the second reading stage. No indication has yet been given as to when tho Gaming Amendment Bill will be taken. The Government has claimed precedence on Wednesdays, tho day customarily set, aside for private members, so the discussion of the Gaming Bill will have to bo a mailer for special arrangement. The House has still several classes of the Estimates to deal with, and th<> Government proposes to extend the sitting hours on Tuesday, as a plain hint, that, this work must be speeded up. Railway problems were discussed in a restricted way toward the close of the wee'i. The Government is gaining a reputation for foisting awkward problems on to commissions and committees. For example, the Government., in grappling with the unemployment problem, had two very thorough reports from the 1928 Unemployment Committee to guide if. The hill just passed sets up an unemployment board, and meanwhile there is a special T rifmplnyrnent Committee of the House and a Cabinet Unemployment Committee to deal with the question of immediate relief. Indications of Shelving. A similar duplication of effort is being proposed in connection with the railways. Royal Commission is investigating economy measures for application to the working railways; them is a Select, Railways Committee; and now the Government is setting up another Sele..-t, '"■ominittea to examine various pharos of railway construction policy So wide is 'he order of rofeicnco for this last committee that, there is no prospect of its being able to present, the comprehensive report intended for discussion before tho session ends.

Iho Government must know that is so, arid tho one conclusion to he drawn 's that the question is to ho shelved until next session; hut, as Mr K. S. Wi 1 - hams, the Minister of Public. Works in the [Jeforrri Government, pointed out the other (Jav, authority will piesently be nought, for the spending of still further money 011 these unprofitable) railways, concerning the wisdom of which even the Government is now gravelv exercised. Ihe Postmaster-General, Hon. .1. 11 Hon, _ il(|, has recently been active outside 'ho House Ht exhorting chambers of commerce and Hotarv ('1 u1 >s to send business men to Parliament. Were he to ad dress some, of his remarks to colleagues "i tho Cabinet, particularly when such shiftless proposals as this are seriously )nit forward, his mission of reform might ho more immediately profitable. It is expected that Parliament will rot sit. next I'riday afternoon, when the meloorial to the' late Right lion. W. V. Mns<ey will he unveiled. The annua, conference nf |], n Reform Partv will open ill Wellington next Wednesday, and il is expected that supporters of the party for so long led by Mr. Massev will be present at the ceremony from all parts t>f Xew Zealand,