TRYING WEEK AHEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21160, 18 April 1932, Page 11

TRYING WEEK AHEAD.

IWORK FOR PARLIAMENT.

ADJUSTMENT BILL DECISION

AMENDMENTS PROBABLE. DIFFERENCES WITHIN COALITION. [by TEI.EGHArir. —SPECIAL RferORTER. ] WELLINGTON, Sunday. The most trying week of the emergency lession would appear to lie immediately ahead. The House spent the whole of ]ast week discussing the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill at its second reading stage, and as the Prime Minister, the Rt- Hon - G - W - Forbes, observed in replying, the speeches from all sections c f the House were generally moderate. Indeed, some surprise has been caused the comparative lack of spirit in many 0 f the Labour speeches. However, the adjustment Bill contains certain features vhich tho Opposition favours, notably interest and rent reductions, so that a general attack on tho measure on the second reading would have been misplaced. - The House will consider tho bill in Committee this week. The bill contains 55 clauses, and those dealing with wage reductions in the Civil Service and cuts . in pensions are bound to be hotly debated. Several Government members have indicated their determination to vote against the bill in those particulars. Amendments to be Introduced. However, it has been intimated that the Government, will introduce a number of amendments in Committee, and if they modify the severity of some of the proposals, it is possible that no exceptionally close divisions will take place. It is anticipated that the greater part of the week will be required to put the bill through its remaining stages and late sittings would appear to be inevitable. The necessity for introducing public safety legislation to ensure maintenance of law and order in light of the Auckland commotions will mean that a slight break will occur before discussion on ihe Adjustment Bill is resumed on Tuesday. Incidentally, that bill is now the only one on the Order Paper, as tho Sales Tax Bill has not yet appeared. It was thought possible that the bill would have been introduced on Friday, and there may be some significance in the fact that it has been delayed as Cabinet has perused a draft of the proposals. The Finance Bill, which is the counterpart of the Adjustment Bill, and a bill to extend the life of Parliament, are two others due for early appearance. Bemainder ol the Business. Inquiries regarding the volume of further legislation and the prospective length of the session, show that no very clear conception regarding either matter is held in official circles. Last week's debate in the House plainly indicated that even Government members are growing perturbed at being kept in Wellington indefinitely. It is almost eight weeks since tho House was summoned in emergency session. In the normal course, the ordinary session will be held in June. It is obvious that the prospect of Parliament being reassembled so soon is extremely remote, but lack of official information on the point shows that little thought has been given to the planning of the work of Parliament. Another question on which decision is still being delayed is New Zealand's representation at the Empire Economic Conference at Ottawa in July. It is understood that forces have been at work within the Cabinet with view to securing definite action, but the selection has not yet been made. All sorts of interests are seeking special representation and are urging the claims of at least five different prospective delegates in varying combinations.

Apart from possible difficulties in reconciling these rivalries, and after all that should not cause interminable delay, there appears to be no reason why the official delegation could not have been chosen several weeks ago.