URGENT BUSINESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21926, 9 October 1934, Page 10

URGENT BUSINESS

SESSION STOCKTAKING WORK BEFORE RECESS DAIRY LEGISLATION CONSIDERATION BY CABINET [BY TEIjKGUAPJI—SPECIAL REPORTER! WELLINGTON. Monday A stocktaking of the business which will require to be dealt with by Parliament before the contemplated adjournment of the session until early next year, is expected to be undertaken by the Cabinet this week. The chief factor controlling the immediate programme is still the Dairy Commission's report, which is expected to lie in the hands of the Cabinet by next Monday at the latest. Meanwhile the draft of a bill has been prepared to give effect to certain aspects of tho problem in the light of the commission's preliminary private report to tho Cabinet. This measure iB understood to refer principally to the reconstitution of the Dairy Board. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates, said this evening that the bilf. would shortly be placed before the Cabinet for consideration. It is uncertain yet whether this bill will be introduced in Parliament before the short recess, but tho general impression is that it will be. The report of the Liter-departmental Committee under the chairmanship of tho Public Service Commissioner, Mr. P. Verschaffelt, which collated statbtical and other information related to the National Mortgage Corporation scheme, has been received by Mr. Coates. The Minister is not yet able to state whether legislation on the subject will be introduced before the House rises. It is understood tho decision on that question is dependent in part on the tenor of the report by the Dairy Commission. Estimates ami Finance Bill Tho House is halfway through consideration of the main Estimates. With the co-operation of members it should be possible to pass the remaining items in two or three further sittings. The supplementary Estimates were completed to-day and their appearance is regarded as one of the signs of the end of a session, although in the present instance the session will really have two endings. Another Finance Bill, which is understood to consist almost entirely of miscellaneous "washing-up" provisions, will also be brought down shortly. Few of the Government bills still on the Order Paper can be regarded as urgent and further consideration of most of them will be probably deferred until the new year. However., it is considered necessary to pass the Mining Amendment Bill, which is now before the Mines Committee, and an Unemployment Bill yet to be introduced, which will give effect to decisions announced in the Budget. On resuming to-morrow the House will discuss the report of the Monetary Conynittee. It is fully expected, many members will desire to participate in this debate and representations will probably be made to the Government to set aside more than one day for the purpose, but with the general desire to adjourn by the end of this month it may be difficult to allot the extra time for debating a report which has more academic than practical value, and is unlikely to lead to legislative action. The Melbourne Contenary Even by keeping to main essentials the House will have to work hard to finish urgent business within the next three weeks and it may even be the first week in November before the adjournment is reached. The Public Works Statement will be tabled thin week. Several member;; hope to attend the Centenary celebrations in Melbourne and most of them have booked passages by the Wanganella on October 25. A decision is expected to bo made thisi week regarding the Ministerial representation. Several names have been mentioned, in that connection, including those of Mr. Coates, the Hon. R. Masters and the Hon. J. A. Young. No doubt tho general desire would 'be thai; Mr. Coates should go, but his responsibilities are particularly onerous at present and it may not be possible for him to leave by the end of the month. The last possible date for the departure of a Minister will be October 30, when the Monowai sails, and if the House has adjourned by then Mr. Coates may bo tho Ministerial representative.