DATE OF SESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22006, 12 January 1935, Page 10

DATE OF SESSION

SHORT DELAIY POSSIBLE

STATEMENT BY MR. COATES

NEW MORTGAGE LEGISLATION

COMMISSION OF AGRICULTURE

The possibility that the session of Parliament will be resumed later than February 13, the date at present indicated, was mentioned by the Minister. of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, on his arrival in Auckland from Dargaville last evening. It was hoped, ho said, to re-open the session on the due date, but the preparation of important legislation to be considered by the House might necessitate a postponement until February 20. Mr. Coates said good progress waa being made in placing the national mortgage proposals into legislative form. However, there were certain difficulties in drafting, particularly in the later part of the proposed bill, and these might possibly result in a short delay. All the proposals were receiving careful consideration before inclusion in the projected legislation, as the matters affected were of national importance. "The appointment of three members of the Executive Commission of Agriculture and the members of the reconstituted Dairy Board may be settled next week," Mr. Coates continued. "The Cabinet will be meeting in Wellington early in the week and that is one of the questions likely to receive consideration. Providing that no unexpected hitch occurs, these appointments should be announced during the week." Mr. Coates said he was unable as yet to make any statement on the Budget outlook in the light of figures for the nine months ended December 31. He had received approximate figures only a few days ago, but they required further amplification before any definite pronouncement could be made. The returns of customs revenue, he added, continued to show a rising tendency and the outlook in this respect wae favourable. Income tax payments next month would probably indicate whether the anticipated surplus for the year would be realised.