WORK OF SESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21333, 7 November 1932, Page 11

WORK OF SESSION

'CLEARER ORDER PAPER FATE OF PRIVATE BILLS // PROPOSED LEGISLATION ' FINISHING BY CHRISTMAS ! [by telegraph—SrEClAL reporter] WELLINGTON. Saturday 'After ploughing the sands for a month ©r more the House of Representatives has developed a vein for moro profitable labours, and there is no reason why the work of tho session should not bo completed comfortably a week or so before Christmas. ' Tho sessional course has now been cleared of several obstacles to progress. The completion of the Budget debate early last week removed one of the major barriers. The House did not achieve a great deal during the remainder of the week, but by ridding the Order Paper of numerous private bills it has ensured a straighter run for tho Government's legislative programme. The coming week should result in an almost complete clearance of minor matters. An'afternoon has been set apart for . .local bills and another for the circulation and discussion of Ministerial answers to questions. Urgent questions are the only ones which have brought replies from Ministers so far this session, so that there is a large accumulation of ordinary questions many of which are no longer topical. Discussion of Answers A business-like method would be to answer questions once a week, but the opportunity for doing so is not always easy to find. Tho difficulty could well be overcome by merely circulating the replies, but members are always eager to discuss the answers in the vain hope of extracting further information. In view of the sensitiveness shown by members to criticism of Parliament, a lively discussion is likely to ensue when the reports of the Privileges Committee on various breaches are discussed next week, probably on Wednesday or Thursday. Five Government bills now stand at the top of the Order Paper. The first is the Customs Acts Amendment Bill, which has already been read a second time and will be considered in Committee on Tuesday. The Electoral Amendment Bill, extending the life of Parliament permanently to four years, the Rent Restriction Bill, the Pensions Amendment Bill and the Local Authorities Sinking Funds Bill are set down for second reading in that order, but as at least two of these measures are definitely contentious, it is likely that they will remain on the agenda for some time yet. Little Othsr Legislation Apart from the measures just enumerated, the Government has little other legislation. The Superannuation Funds Bill has already been read a second time pro forma and referred to a special Select Committee, which will begin the hearing of evidence during the ensuing week. It is hoped to report the bill back to the "House within three weeks, and a stubborn fight against the principles it contains seems inevitable. The only other bills of major moment appear to be one designed to establish a Central Reserve Bank in New Zealand 'and giving effect to many of the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission relative to the more economical administration of the Native Department. Not much progress on the former measure will be made until the return of the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, toward the end of the month. The bill, in any case, has not yet been received from the drafting office. The Native Affairs Bill, dealing mainly with the amalgamation of activities, is almost ready for presentation to the -House. A bill which may possibly be elevated to major status is one dealing with hospital administration. It is described as imainly a machinery measure, but it will also seek to allow hospital districts to be amalgamated where such course seems desirable in tho interests of efficiency and economy. Possibly regulations later issued under tho bill will prove more enlighten-, ing than the bill itself on that aspect of the matter. Crowding in tho Work / Parliament has now been in session just over six weeks without passing one bill, apart from that relating to the voting of supply. Thus, in spite of the relative paucity of legislative proposals, there will be much more work to crowd into seven weeks before Christmas. The programme 7 is not a formidable one, but Mr. Forbes will probably need to assume the role of the stern parent, lest Parliament strays /.into devious ways and loses track of the main issues. . A step in that direction has been taken by the Prime Minister in notifying his intention to move that Government business should henceforward take precedence on every sitting day. The House has made a promising start with the consideration of the Estimates, which will be considered further on Thursday and Friday. It is remarkable the amount of work Parliament achieves on a Friday. Under the double incentive of an urgency motion and the desire of members to leave for their homes in good time on such a day, /members are really children of a larger growth, for in effect the Prime Minister apes tho pedagogue by declaring: " I his is the amount of work to be done to-day. You may go as soon as you have finished.