MORE COMMISSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 10

MORE COMMISSIONS.

EMERGENCY LEGISLATION.

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS

IMPENDING ANNOUNCEMENTS. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. [UY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Sunday. Having secured relief from the strain of the eme/gency session of Parliament the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, has been able to direct attention to various important and urgent questions arising out of legislation passed during the two months. Tn the short recess before Parliament meets again Mr. Forbes ■will mako several important announcements, among which will be statements concerning the rehabilitation of the Hawke's Bay earthquake area, railways control, local body rating and costs, education expenditure and tho wheat and flour duties.

Ono of the first decisions to be made will be that concerning the appointment of members -of both the Hawke's Bay Readjustment Court and the Rehabilitation Committee. The Court will consist of a president, who may bo cither a past or present member of tho Supremo Court Bench, and two associates. It was originally intended that the Chief Justice should act as president, but an amendment to tho bill provided that a retired Judge could bo chosen. Although no hint has been given concerning likely appointments it is believed there is a possibility of Sir 'Walter Stringer, at present chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board, being appointed president of the new Court.

The Government is contemplating the abolition of the Pensions Appeal Board in its present form, and if previous intentions are adhered to Sir Walter Stringer would be free to accept the position, for it is proposed to delegate pensions appeal cases to magistrates in each centre.

The Prime Minister is anxious that both tho Adjustment Court and the Rehabilitation Committee of five members should start work as soon as possiblo. To this end he will confer with tho Chief Justice early this week and an announcement may bo expected shortly. One the most important inquiries in recent years is to be made by a commission to be set up soon to investigate the incidence of local body taxation and the possibility of effecting economics in the expenditure of all local authorities, including hospital and charitable aid boards. The Government is now considering the membership of this commission. The g/owing burden of the cost of education to/tli9 country will form the basis of an inquiry by a special committee, the personnel of which will be announced shortly, ''it will not go into questions of educational policy except in so far as that affects expenditure, so that there should be no danger that the recommendations of the Recess Committee on Education will be over-ridden.

A statement of great interest to be made by the Prime Minister in the near future will be that relating to wheat and flour duties. 'lt is believed that a readjustment will be made to permit the price of the 41b. loaf to be reduced by from Id to l-£d. Should the duties be altered the revised scale will not operate until early next year. There still remains the question of highways finance, but this will be investigated by a Select Committee of tho Iluuse of Representatives next session.