RAPID PACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22392, 13 April 1936, Page 10

RAPID PACE

WORK OF PARLIAMENT BANK ACT BECOMES LAW SILENCE OF LABOUR MEMBERS IMPORTANT MEASURES PENDING [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Sunday Speedy legislation has been the aim of the Labour Government during the earlv stages of the present session. In the * space of a fortnight the opening formalities have been disposed of, the usually monotonous Address-m-Reply debate pushed speedily into the background, and the major policy bills passed by the House of Representatives. Before the adjournment for the Easter recess the more important of the two bills, the Reserve Bank-Amend-ment Bill, was* also passed by the Legislative Council in whirlwind fashion, and having received the (iov-ernor-General's assent, is now the law of tbe land. The progress so far has been almost bewildering. In the past Parliament has generally sauntered through the programme of legislation placed before it until the inevitable spurt has occurred in the last fortnight of the session. The old order has changed, temporarily at any rate. Emphatic Gesture

A sustained protest was made by Opposition members against the manner in which the Reserve Bank Bill was rushed through, but the general opinion now is that the Government wished to make an emphatic opening gesture and that it has fully succeeded in doing so. In several speeches in the House it has been averred that the question of currency and credit control was the main issue before the people at the last election; Labour's policy of complete State control carried the day, and Labour has lost no time in putting that policy into effect. The taking over of the Reserve Bank and the widening of the bank's powers was its method of exercising control, and although the material has still to be finally announced for the utilisation of the new financial machinery, members of the Cabinet will be able to face the Labour Party conference over the Easter holidays with the record of "something attempted, something done." \

It may be weeks before the new financial powers are needed for practical purposes, but political observers generally agree that the gesture of rapid legislation in this one important direction is likely to carry considerable weight with the Government's supporters.

Few Government Speakers Actually the Reserve Bank Bill occupied the sitting time of the House, exclusive of adjournments, for less than 22 hours, and that in spite of the Opposition's protest in the adoption of stonewall tactics. Throughout the discussion on the bill the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, was practically the lone voice of the Government, although the Prime Minister. Mr. Savage, and Mr. W. M. C. Denham (Government —Invercargill) made brief contributions to the second reading debate.

Practically the same course was followed with the Government Railways Amendment Bill, restoring Ministerial control, which slipped through the House in about 10 hours' actual sitting time, with only the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, and Mr. E. F. Meachen (Government—-Wairau) giving support to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. There is a measure of conjecture at present as to whether the Government will impose this policy of silence on its rank and file members for the balance of its legislative programme. The discipline of the Labour Party is of course a by-word, and it has never been better demonstrated than during the protracted sitting on the Reserve Bank Bill last Monday and Tuesday, when Government members steadfastly refused to be stung into speech. However, Labour has always made a strong point of ability in debate, and some of the accomplished debaters among the new Government members may soon find that silence in the House, especially in a House liberally decorated with microphones, can be decidedly irksome.

Important Bills to Come Mr. Savage has expressed the hope that the rest of the Government's legislation will be put through the House before the end of next month, enabling an adjournment of several weeks for the preparation of the routine business of the session. There are still important bills to come. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill will probably be reported back to the House shortly after the recess, and with the Hon. A. Hamilton (Wallace) leading, the Opposition criticism is bound to cause a lengthy debate. Three other measures—the Labour Department Amendment Bill, the Employment Promotion Bill and the Judicial Reports Bill—are already on the order paper. Among other important items still to appear are the Transport Amendment Bill and the Guaranteed Price Bill, neither of which can be expected to go through without discussion. On all these bills the Opposition is certain to exercise its right of criticism, but if the Government elected to pursue the policy it bas adopted up to now it could easily place them on the Statute Book in rapid time. Slackening of Pace However, past experience has proved that the use of commanding majorities for high-pressure legislation is not always advisable, and Mr. Savage, even if he does not decide to put the brakes on, may consider slipping into second gear and giving his own supporters a chance to speak. It is understood that the Labour Government follows the plan of giving its members the right of free discussion on policy measures in caucus, but for a man eager to place his views before his constituents that is no great consolation. In addition to the major policy measures there are various amending and machinery bills, either prepared or in the course of preparation by Ministers, and with a slight slackening" of the pace and more scope for discussion there would probably be sufficient business to occupy the attention of the House until the Budget and routine matters generally are ready for presentation. The introduction of the Labour Department Amendment Bill and the Employment Promotion Bill just before the adjournment on Wednesday is taken as an indication that a somewhat easier pace will be set after the recess. It was stated that the bills had been brought down so that members would have a chance of studying them over the holidays. As far as is known, thev have not yet been considered by Government members in caucus, and this may have the effect of breaking the almost Trappist silence that has ruled so far on the Treasury benches.