MARKING TIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 11

MARKING TIME

t \VEEK IN PARLIAMENT WAITING FOR BUSINESS MAIN MEASURES NOT READY THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Sunday The past week in Parliament was "a thing of shreds and patches." The debate 011 the Tariff Commission's report concluded 011 Thursday afternoon after three and a-half days had been devoted to it, and for the balance' of the week, with the exception of an hour or so, the Labour Partv discussed bills promoted. by its,own members. The Government was privately pleased at t-his arrangement, because, although it has produced a batch of innocuous bills for discussion if necessary, it still has 110 main programme measures ready for presentation. Indeed, if the truth were admitted, Parliament might well adjourn for a fortnight at least. By that time, either the ~ Customs Amendment Bill or the Budget should be ready. In the meantime, there are only trifling measures for discussion. ' Sarcastic Members Labour and Independent members waxed sarcastic during the week at the backward state of Government business. The object of their particular scorn was the appearance of a Stock Remedies Bill, which, it was suggested, was brought forward to fill in time. The Prime Minister. Mr. Forbes, did not give a very convincing refutation to that suggestion. . It was evident that he had 110 desire to accelerate the debating pace, for in reference to several subjects during the week he said he recognised the importance of the particular question at the moment under consideration. • In the circumstances, it would perhaps be unjust to censure Labour members for the time wasted in discussing

Mr. H. G. R. Mason's foredoomed measure, the National Credits and Currency Bill. Actually, the second reading debate on this bill _ was taken in three stages, separated in one case by several days. It was small wonder that one member was prompted to remark on the third occasion that the debate appeared to have "gone cold." The bill was eventually rejected, its only claim to transient fame being that it provoked the first and so far the only division of the session. Two Bills Passed

The week's only real achievement was the passing of two Government bills, one amending the Arms Act, and the other an academic measure entitled the Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Bill, on which the House wasted no time. These .will 2° forward to the Legislative Council, which is short of work owing to the slow progress being made in the House. The Labour Party's abstention from the Address-in-Reply debate has been offset substantially by the keenness of Opposition members to talk on all other subjects. Labour speakers had a splendid innings on Friday, when the general unemployment issue was raised for the second time this session. The Labour criticism on this occasion, however, did not deal so much in generalities as is usual, and specific instances of alleged abuses in the disbursement of the Unemployment Fund, particularly under subsidy schemes, were cited in speeches notable for their blunt directness. It is unfortunate that the Minister of Employment, the Hon. A. Hamilton, is under the necessity of seeking a prolonged respite from his duties on account of ill-health. Nevertheless, he attended the' House on Friday afternoon and replied to many points in the Labour Party's criticism. He did not claim perfection for the Unemployment Board's policy and administration, but he did show that a most difficult problem was being attacked with due regard to the legitimate needs of the unemployed and the capacity of the Unemployment Fund to satisfy the heavy claims made on it. An investigation of certain complaints was readily promised by the Minister.

Rate ol Sustenance One point pressed by Labour memhers was th£ payment of sustenance at the rate prescribed in the original Act of 1930. However, the impracticability of that course was shown by Mr./ Hamilton when he said that if sustenance allowances were paid on that scale £2 14s 6d a week to a married man with a family, for example—the cost would be about £9,000,000 annually, which is about double the now collected in unemployment taxation. The unemployment debate was unfinished when the House rose for the week on Friday afternoon. It was thought the Government might allow the debate to be resumed on Tuesday, but as the Order Paper has bel>n arranged, opportunity will be given first ' for the introduction of several Government and private members' bills. The one at the top of the Order Paper is the Electoral Amendment. Bill, in charge of Mr. Forbes, which seeks to extend the life of Parliament permanently from three years to four. Although this issue is really separate from the controversy which has been raised regarding the prolongation of the current Parliamentary terrn,_ it is expected that- the Prime Minister's bill will be subjected to lively criticism by Labour. Several more Government bills are expected to appear during the week. The most important will probably be the Finance Bill, which, inter alia, will be designed |o remove certain anomalies in the Reserve Bank Act. It is also probable that the Mining Bill and the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill will also bo introduced shortly.