WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20923, 13 July 1931, Page 11

WORK OF PARLIAMENT.

' UNEMPLOYMENT BILL.

FEATURES of the debate.

MUCH BUSINESS AHEAD

IMPORTANT MEASURES PENDING,

[»y TELEGRArH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] ' "WELLINGTON, Sunday.

The outstanding feature of the clebate bn the. Unemployment Amendment Bill, jtvhich occupied the greater part of the . past week, wa s the attitude of the Prime Jlinister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, who tvas not disposed to accept any risks to fjie passage of the measure. He was therefore ready to make a concession of importance when it became evident that there was likely to be close voting on the question of payment of unemployment taxation by relief workers. The flood of amendments cunningly devised by 'the labour Party was directed at the inability of relief workers to contribute toward the tost of providing themselves with work, and so subtle were some of these that labour members were able to draw support from the Reform ranks, but never e ßt any time sufficient to defeat the Govtrnmnt's proposals.

The Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith, who had charge of the bill, and, incidentally, handled his difficult task very well, occasionally showed signs of worry. j\tfhen late on Thursday night a careful (counting of heads showed that a test on the question of easing the burden which it was proposed to place on those who it was contended would be least able to bear it would probably carry a vital amendment against the Government, the Prime Minister stepped in and announced Jhat h 0 would hold the question over.

The End of the Debate.

'As Mr. Forbes had already expressed

his willingness to place the measure,

irrespective of party, in the hands of the jHouse, a defeat at this stage would not have been a serious thing from a policy standpoint, but he was not risking the

moral effect of a Government defeat. jWhen on Friday morning Mr. Forbes submitted a clause which largely met the objections of the Reform rank and file, the passage of the bill substantially as it first appeared was assured, although Labour protested to the end. The position now is that, relief workers jreeeiving wages provided wholly out of unemployment funds will not be called upon to pay the wages tax, but will be liable for the flat rate levy of £1 a year. The amendments moved into the bill by the Government were mainly of a

machinery character, but an important one. is that which enables local bodies to subsidise money expended by the unemployment committee. The greater part' of Parliament's work still lies ahead. The interrupted debate on the Address-in-Repjy will be resumed on Tuesday, but this should not delay the House unduly, as members have already had an opportunity in the unemployment discussion to air views which in other circumstances would have found expression in the Address-in-Reply debate. Opportunity will then occur for the setting up of Select Committees for the session and the House will pass on to consideration of further bills.

Trading Coupons Bill. One of the first measures to claim attention is the Trading Coupons Bill, which Was introduced during the short session some months ago and was dropped, and about which a most interesting breach of privilege inquiry has been raised in the House. A member who criticised the methods of ,trading coupon dealers was criticised from without the House and a special committee will decide upon inquiry whether members' privileges have been infringed. The bill seeks to abolish the gift coupon system. There are indications that there will be support for the measure from all parts of the House, with a very fair prospect of its becoming law. Another bill which the Prime Minister expects to bring down during the coming week is one designed to govern building regulations with a view to minimising earthquake risk. It is understood that this will embody recommendations of the Special Committee set up after the Hawke's Bay disaster, and while the subject bristles with difficulties an attempt will be regulate structural design and possibly govern the use of materials. Another bill shortly to appear is one consolidating the native land laws of New Zealand, a contribution to the statutes long overdue. The Prime Minister stated yesterday that these laws were in a very confusing state and the necessity for consolidation had long been recognised.'-1 he process had been a long one, but finality .was at last in sight. Private members will be glad to see the last of the Address-in-Reply debate this week, as the Prime Minister has promised to give them a chance to bring forward isome of the private members' bills that sre now waiting on the order paper. The '.rapid development of the economic crisis which occasioned the special session early 'this year brought questions of national moment to the fore and crowded out pnvate members' bills. So far this session, also, the presence of more important legislation has caused the shelving of private members' proposals, included in which are Mr. H. T. Armstrong's Gaming Amendment Bill, Mr. H. Hollandls (Christchurch North) Bible-in-Schools Bill and several measures in the hands of Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs). - ... Mr. Forbes' programme. «

Even questions which usually give private members a chance were sidetracked during the emergency session. Mr. Forbes said yesterday that he hoped to be able to give private members a day during the coming week and to find time to allow the House to discuss questions dealt with at the last Imperial Conference. Mr. Forbes also indicated yesterday that it w as still his intention to bring down a Email programme of legislation, the mos vital phases of which will be outlined in the Budget. This he expects to have ready by the end of the month and anticipates no difficulty in being able to occupy tho interval with useful work . 'Until the appearance of the Financial ' Statement. While on this subject the •Prime Minister pointed to the thinness volumes containing laws made during the past two years as illustrating his argument that big volumes of statutes not necessarily good for the country «nd that a short list of Acts will, generally speaking, suffice. There are many members in the House *lio will agree with Mr. Forbes that it ?| js content and not volume which counts, but there the agreement would end. For the present the Government has been faced with the unpleasant task of writing into the New Zealand statutes some- of tho most disagreeable legislation ever passed through Parliament, and when the Present session finishes it will be agreed t"at. if the 1931 statutes are thin, there ls a wealth of significance within their y covers.

The Prime Minister is still hopeful of , I s, ng able to bring his business to a close J the end of August.