NEARING THE END.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21167, 27 April 1932, Page 13

NEARING THE END.

'[WORK OF THE SESSION. PRIME MINISTER'S HOPES. CANADIAN TRADE TREATY. INTEREST and rent reductions rpr telegraph.— special reporter. ] 1 WELLINGTON, Tuesday, intimation that he expected the emergency session of Parliament, which t,e<ran nine weeks ago to-day, to end on Saturday week, May 7, was made by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, after the Cabinet rose this evening. Although such prophecies are often apt to prove unduly optimistic, Mr. Forbes' announcement at least indicates that the Government is reaching the end of its legislative programme. No decision has been made regarding the da* e le summoning of the next session, but there is no reason to suppose it will be convened until after New Zealand's delegates return from the Imperial Economic Conference, which will open at Ottawa on July 21. The general expectation in the lobbies is that the Cabinet will decide to call members together for a comparatively short session about September or October. Better Trade Relations. •\Vhen the House of Representatives meets to-morrow afternoon after a weekend recess lasting four days, the first business will be consideration of the customs resolutions and related legislation, to give effect to the provisions of the trade treaty between New Zealand and Canada. It is probable the question will arouse considerable discussion, so that the Prime Minister's hope that :t Tvil! -be disposed of before the tea adjournment would seem to be somewhat optimistic. It is not expected, however, that there will be a great deal of opposition to the customs resolutions or the bill that will follow, for it is realised by members generally that although this Dominion does not stand to gain a great deal from the new trading basis, the treaty should make for more satisfactory commercial relations.

Main Principle Unaltered. Once the treaty legislation is passed the Government will introduce a number

/of amendments to the section of the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill dealing with interest and rent reductions. Twenty-five out of 55 clauses in the bill have been passed by the House in committee. Some speculation has arisen in the .lobbies concerning the nature of the amendments which the Cabinet has been considering during the past -few days. Mr. Forbes said this evening that the main principle of bringing about a general reduction of 20 per cent, in interest rates and rents woud be maintained, although there would be a number of alterations in the original draft of the bill in order to remove anomalies which had been found to exist. There was no intention of destroying the chief purpose of the bill, namely, bringing about a re-

adjustment of fixed charges to an extent which was held to be commensurate with recent reductions in salaries and wages. Every effort was being made to prevent injustices occurring.

Faster Pace Necessary. Unless the House sits on Saturday there will be only three sitting days this week and a great deal cannot be done in that time judged by standards of past progress. If Parliament is to be prorogued by next Saturday week a much faster pace will have to be set, as there is still the Finance Bill and the measure to extend tho life of Parliament to be considered, in addition to one or two smaller bills, which the Prime Minister said this evening would come down shortly. UNEMPLOYMENT BILL. MEASURE BEFORE COUNCIL. [BT TELEGRAPH. ritES-'S ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Legislative Council this afternoon agreed to amendments made by the House of Representatives to the Unemployment Amendment Bill. The Council rose until Thursday. Minor amendments to the bill weie introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Governor-General s Message and adopted.