WEEK'S PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 13

WEEK'S PROGRESS

INDUSTRIAL BILLS labour measure passed ARBITRATION AMENDMENT [BT TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Sunday There has been no lack of business before the House of Representatives during the past week and good progress has been made with three bills giving effect, to the Government's policy in regard to industrial matters and the/relief of unemployment. In addition, another policy measure, the Factories Amendment Bill, has been introduced and important statements have been made regarding increases in relief and sustenance rates. The three measures on which good progress has been made are the Labour Department Amendment Bill, which has been passed through all its stages, the Employment Promotion Bill, now in committee, and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, which has already been debated for a day and a-half, but which is likely to meet with further opposition before it is finally passed. Minister's Heavy Task During the week the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, has been in charge of practically every measure in the House and, with the rush of business on hand, it was not surprising that he arrived in the chamber too late on Friday afternoon to reply to the second reading debate on the Labour Department Amendment Bill. The arbitration bill is still the most important measure before the House, although it will probably yield that place in public interest when the Guaranteed Price Bill is introduced on Tuesday. Although the Labour Bills Committee of the House took evidence from interested parties on the Arbitration Bill there were no vital alterations in the measure when it was reported back to the House and such alterations as were made appeared to be chiefly to the benefit of the trades unions. In consequence, it is not surprising to find the Opposition contesting the bill strongly and, unless the Government decides to take urgency, its passage through the House may be protracted. An Eye to the Radio Five speakers took part in the second reading debate when it was opened last Wednesday night and the most interesting contributions were unquestionably those of Mr. Armstrong and of Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition—Wallace). The speeches were broadcast and Mr. Armstrong was specially interesting, because of his development of the radio technique. In the past it has been the/custom for Ministers, when they are moving the second reading of bills, to go meticulously into details end elaborate points in an effort to anticipate Opposition criticism. That is unquestionably good politics, but it would hardlv 'provide entertainment for radio listeners. Accordingly, since the introduction of Parliamentary broadcasting this session, the tendency had been to deal mainly with generalities. Mr Hamilton who followed the Minister took exactly the opposite course. Naturally, he devoted some attention to general principles, but he also developed a critical examination of the bill almost clause by clause and made his points with a Scottish directness matching his Scots accent. Coming Man in Politics

An excellent impression was made the following day by Mr. S. G. Holland (Opposition—Christchurch North) in his second reading speech. In the South Island particularly Mr. Holland is_ regarded as a coming man in politics and industrial legislation at the moment is his strong point. In this respect he is proving a tower of strength to the Opposition. The rapid passage of the Labour Department Amendment Bill was not surprising. Opposition members showed an inclination to agree with the Government in its desire to centralise unemployment administration under the Labour Department, and Mr. Hamilton even spoke in favour of the change. Throughout the second reading debate on Friday the majority of speeches lasted only a few minutes. The Employment Promotion Bill, the third of Mr. Armstrong's measures, was contested much more hotly and there were frequent divisions in the Committee stages on Friday afternoon. The retention in the bill of unemployment taxation substantially in its present form has given the Opposition something of a tactical advantage and it has not been slow to turn it to account. Bid for Socialisation

Further indications of the trend of the Government's policy were provided in the Factories Amendment Bill, Mr. Armstrong's announcement of higher relief and sustenance rates, and Mr. Sullivan's review of the powers he pror poses to take under the Industry Establishment and Efficiency Bill. The Factories Bill is regarded as a reaffirmation of Labour's general industrial policy as declared in other measures and the higher relief rates are the fulfilment'" of a definite election pledge. However, Mr. Sullivan's bill is looked oh in Opposition circles as a strong bid for the socialisation of the means of production and is certain to be hotly attacked when it comes before the House.

A considerable degree of interest is also centred in the statement made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, that a general order is to be included in a finance bill restoring all salaries and wages to the 1931 level, this procedure to apply to the civil service and all outside workers whether they are covered by awards or not. The announcement was not surprising, as the Government's principles in this direction have been freely enunciated in the past. The most important question is when the general order for restoration is likely to be applied. With the Guaranteed Price Bill, the Industry Establishment and Efficiency Bill, and certain transport legislation, all likely to appear in the House in the near future, the Government will have a legislative programme which can hardly be rushed. Ho wever, it is certain that salaries and wages will be dealt with this session, and the indications are that the v 'tal Finance Bill may even anticipate the Budget, which is not likely to be presented by the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Isash, before August.

EXTRA £IO,OOO A YEAR

LABOUR DEPARTMENT COST

[by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTEftJ WELLINGTON, Saturday

A statement that the reorganisation find extended staffing of the Labour Department, as proposed under the Labour Department Amendment Hill, *ould involve an additional expenditure on the department of approximately £10,00(1 a year was made in the House of Representatives on Friday dv the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. ;• Armstrong, during the discussion on the bill. Mr. Armstrong added that for that expenditure there would be a revitalised department. It had to be remembered that the Labour Department «ad been dead for years.