WORK OF THE SESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 11

WORK OF THE SESSION

A QUIET OPENING POLITICAL PROSPECTS NO-CONFIDENCE AMENDMENT MR. MASTERS AND EDUCATION [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Sunday The first week of the new session has teen notable more because of events out- ' fide the House than in it. The country has been-enjoying a political holiday for four months, but it. was to be expected that'-frith the reassembly of Parliament Labour critics would again become vocal. So they have to the extent of asking numerous questions and intimating that a ro-eonfidenro amendment will be moved to the Address-in-Reply motion. --

However *b© principal place in the limelight as critics of the. Coalition has been taken by two Government members, Messrs. A- M-" Samuel and A. J. StallwOrthy (Eden), who absented themselves from the Coalition caucus on Friday, because of dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the Government's policy. As far as Mr. Samuel is concerned / the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, has issued a direct challenge to him to resign and recontest. his seat. A similar invitation has not been extended yet to Mr. Stallworthy, probably because Mr. Forbes is not quite clear as to Mr. Stallworthy's grounds of dissatisfaction. School Text Books There ; is at present no reason to suppose that there are other mutineers in the Government camp, but judging by gossip there is one matter causing many Government members considerable perturbation. , That is the wisdom of the Hon. R. Masters continuing to hold the Education portfolio. The straight comment recently made by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton) in Christchurch recently has the sympathy of many members whose unswerving allegiance to the Coalition cannot be questioned. The action of Mr. Masters in renewing the contract for school text books thus, in the belief of many, maintaining the cost of books at an unjustifiably high level, has caused wide dissatisfaction. Indirect Questioning In any case there is a feeling that such an important portfolio should be held by a member of the House of Representatives, By virtue of his place in tho Legislative Council Mr. Masters is removed from direct questioning by members of Parliament, and questions have to be put indirectly through the Prime Minister. It is scarcely a secret that Mr. Masters has a close place in the counsels of the Prime Minister,- and it is doubtful if Mr. Forbes would be willing to isacrifice Mr. Masters unless the present undercurrent pf discontent becomes more insistent.

From a political point of view it might have been an adroit move to send Mr. Masters to London as a successor to Sir Thomas Wilford as High Commissioner, but it has been decided to extend Sir Thomas' term by a year. Further, it is believed that although Mr. Masters professed to be flattered by the regent association of his name with the London post, he actually had no ajnbitions in that direction. Almost certainly the dissatisfaction of some members with the present placing of the Education portfolio will be raised in the House at a later stage. In the meanwhile, proceedings in the House have been tranquil enough, although there has been no real opportunity t-o set off fireworks such is usually given at the beginning of a session. When the Government brings down the Imprest Supply Bill possibly the Labour members will 6eek to make party capital out of various subjects. Enticing Independents

"When the Address-in-Beply debate is in progress next, week it is proposed to take only the speeches of the mover and seconder, Mr. J. N. Massey (Franklin) and Mr. P. McSkimming (Clutha), on Tuesday evening, and it is expected that Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, will speak on Wednesday afternoon. It was admitted by a prominent Labour member during the week-end that Mr. Holland's long no-confidence amendment had been purposely framed to entice the support of Independents, particularly on the currency question. However, the amendment has no hope of being carried, and there is a lot to be said in favour of the suggestion made in the House by Mr. A. E. Jull on Friday, that a definite dato should be fixed for the vote, so that the debate, which is largely purposeless, can be concluded and the House informed of the contents of the Ottawa agreement, the National Expenditure Commission's final report, and the Budget. Mr. Forbes promised Mr. Jull that he would confer with Mr. Holland to see whether a reasonable arrangement to shorten the debate could be reached, but he stated yesterday that he had not yet had an opportunity to discuss the matter with the Leader ©f the Opposition. However, Mr. Forbes said the number of Government speakers would be strictly limited, and he hoped to be able to conclude the debate before the end of the week which, on the present outlook, appears to be rather an optimistic view. Tariff Concessions Mr. Forbes is anxious that the Ottawa statement, - accompanied by the customs resolutions, should pear before the end of the week with a view to allaying the various misgivings being expressed by manufacturers. He said yesterday that, there was no reason to fear that New Zealand's tariff concessions to Britain would be injurious to efficient local industries, and ample time to state objections would be provided between the passing of the customs resolutions 7 and the appearance of the confirmatory Customs Amendment Bill. Mr. Forbes said he was not likely to bring down the customs resolutions before the Address-in-Beply debate had concluded. It may be inferred that his reason is that he is not anxious to provide the Opposition with any more ammunition than is now available for firing in the Address-in Reply debate. If so, his view is a reasonable one, as there will be ample opportunity later for dealing seriatim with tho items in the sessional programme.

The present indication is that the Budget and .Estimates will appear in about ten days' time, and that the Economy Commission's report, will be tabled either on (lie day preceding or the day following the presentation of tho Budget.