END OF ESTIMATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22241, 16 October 1935, Page 15

END OF ESTIMATES

LONG DISCUSSION LITTLE DESIRE FOR HASTE MORE REPORTS PRESENTED UNEMPLOYMENT REVIEW [BV TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Consideration of tho main Estimates was concluded by the House of Representatives to-day. When it resumed after the customary week-end recess only five classes of estimates remained to be passed and although they provoked fairly lengthy discussion it was mainly desultory in character and hardly seemed to reflect tßs desire of members to return to constituencies as soon as possible. < The first Government caucus of the session was held this morning, but it is gathered that the main points considered by members concerned the duration of the session. They were given a forecast of tho Government's legislative programme and the impression that Parliament -will not rise until toward the end of next week at the earliest now seems to be confirmed. Only one bill was introduced in the House this afternoon, and that was a measure of purely local interest to Wellington, except in so far as it proposes to grant a virtual passenger transport njOnopoly to the Government Railways Board in catering for the needs of a fairly large suburban dis- . trict. Tho most important reports presented during the afternoon were those of Ihe Unemployment Board and the Public Service' Commissioner. The House passed straight on to a eonliideration of the Estimates, but there was about two hours of someAvhat aimless discussion before the proposed vote for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research was passed. The estimates for the State Advances Department caused comparatively slight delay, although some Labour ' f members appeared mystified at an assessment'on the department of £14,000 for income tax. A good deal of talk followed on ' the proposed expenditure for education and the unemployment fund. The railway estimates were handled with despatch and were passed just before the House rose at midnight. In reply to questons by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, regarding further legislation and the possible date of the general election, ' the. Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, said he would give an outline of the legislative programme to-morrow. The date of the general ejection depended on the time the House rose. He indicated that the Public Works Statement and Estitsmates would be taken to-morrow and , that the House would then proceed with legislation. Owing to the effluxion of time the term of office of the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Otago) as Chairman of Committees of tho Legislative Council has expired. Mr. Hanan had been --chairman for three years. j