WORK OF SESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21853, 16 July 1934, Page 11

WORK OF SESSION

FEATURES OF WEEK REVISED CUSTOMS TARIFF MUCH WASTE OF TIME MAJOR BILLS NOT .READY / [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Sunday The outstanding event in Parliament last week was the revelation of the details of the revised Customs tariff, which was supported by a comprehensive statement by the Minister of Customs, Mr. Coates, and was followed after an interval of two days by the release of the Tariff Commission's report. Apart from this, the House was engaged with minor matters. Owing to the Government's peculiar method of arranging business, the House is really being obliged to waste much time.. A debate on the tariff report was rushed on to tho Order Paper the day following its presentation. A morfc sensible method would have been to allow members time to assimilate the contents of the report thoroughly and to have taken discussion on it simultaneously with consideration of the Customs Amendment Bill in two or three weeks. As / business has been arranged, members will have had at least three bites at the customs cherry before it is finally disposed of Most of the observations made on Tuesday evening, when the Customs resolutions were introduced, were reproduced on Friday when the report was debated. Discussion is to be continued on Tuesday, for it serves the Government's purpose in keeping the House occupied until the major bills are ready. Other Instances of Delay Although it is nearly a fortnight ago since Labour made its announcement that it would take no part in the Address-in-Reply debate, the Government has npt- been able to recover effectively from that surprise. Thus private members have been accorded treatment of an unexpectedly generous nature. For instance, one entire evening sitting was devoted to the National Credits and Currency Bill, promoted by Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs), and even then a division was not reached on the second reading. It was obvious from the outset that the bill has no hope of survival and that the Government allowed the debate to proceed because it had no more useful work to offer in its stead.

Again, one afternoon sitting was given over to discussion on Ministerial answers to questions —an entirely superfluous a6t of magnanimity on the Government's part, since the most persuasive of Parliamentary orators lias scant hope of inducing Ministers to alter the tenor of their replies once these have been committed to paper and circulated in the House.

Actually, the subject which above all others is agitating the minds of members just now—negotiations between Britain and New Zealand on the meat problem-rhas not been mentioned in the House, apart from reference to it in one urgent question. However, the discussions proceeding between the two Governments are obviously of such delicacy that it is probable no useful purpose would be served by promoting a debate on' the subject. In any case, the New Zealand-Government is apparently committed to virtual silence just now at the behest of the British Government, although it is proposed to release for publication later the text of cablegrams which have been exchanged in recent days.

Important Business Ahead

It is possible the report, or reports, of the Select Committee on the present money system and suggested reforms thereto will be tabled during the coming week. It would be most surprising, however, if any recommendations made by the committee led to positive action on the part of the Government. It is fairly clear that the purpose of the committee was chiefly to allow reforming zealots to give expression to their views and that, that function having been performed, the committee's report or reports will merely swell the volume of Parliamentary records.

It is expected, of course, that the subject will give rise to a lively debate in the House and ®iat probably, in the formal phrase of I'arliament, the committee's recommendations will be referred to the Government for consideration.

Much of Parliament's more important work is likely to be crowded into the late stages of the session. The Native Affairs Commission only recently completed the hearing of evidence, while the Dairy Industry Commission is still hearing witnesses. It will therefore be a considerable time before either body will be ready to report its findings to the Government, and further time must, then be allowed for Cabinet action and the preparation of appropriate legislation.

It is probable that, having regard to such circumstances as those, the Government is not over-anxious to force the pace of Parliament's progress now in case a more awkward hiatus in the sessional programme should arise later.