COMING SESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 15

COMING SESSION

BUDGET PREPARATIONS BUSY DAYS IN PROSPECT Although the next session of Parliament will not open until well on into August, preparations are well advanced, and much of the legislation with which it is proposed to deal has already been submitted to Ministers in draft form, states the Wellington Post. The last session of a Parliament is usually a talking one, but this year there are indications that the House will be asked to consider quite a formidable array o"f" legislation. In addition to the bills which were postponed from last session, there are a number of new measures on the stocks. Ministers and their departmental heads have already given a lot of attention to the preparation of Estimates, and these should be ready for final perusal by tho Minister of Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, when he returns from London. <

Again this year main interest will centre on the Defence Vote. Although the details of the proposed expenditure have not yet been completed, there are indications that the vote will be in excess ,of that of last year. The Government has various plans in view for strengthening the defences of the Dominion, and these cannot be carried out without increased expenditure. Mr. Coates intimated before he left New Zealand that during his visit to England he would give attention to the preparation of his Budget, so that it would be ready for early presentation during the session. Preliminary figures showing the financial position of the country were in Mr. Coates' possession, and he stated prior to leaving New Zealand that he expected to have his financial proposab mapped out before he returned.