BUSY LEGISLATORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 13

BUSY LEGISLATORS

jWOBK OF PARLIAMENT

GOOD progress continues

FURTHER bills this week •ftiE MORTGAGE CORPORATION [BX TELEGIUPH— SPECIAL KEPORTER] WELLINGTON, Sunday There has been no slackening in the pace of Parliamentary business in the week just past. In the House of Bepresentatives the Factories Amendment Bin was put through its remaining stages and passed, and such good progress has been made with the Transport Licensing Amendment Bill that the measure now requires only its third reading. The, Legislative Council, too, has been working at high pressure and, during the week, has passed both the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill and the Factories BillQuestions of transport control practically monopolised the attention of the House during the week. The second reading debate on the bill was opened on Tuesday night, continued on Wednesday night, and virtually completed on Thursday, although the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, did not reply until Friday morning- In' committee the House settled down to work with a will. Members of the Opposition continued to contest the measure on principle, but they confined their activities chiefly to putting forward machinery amendments, for several of which the Minister promised consideration. It was no mean achievement to have the committee stage of an important policy measure completed in a day, and the bill itself reported to the House with amendments only a quarter of an hour after the normal time for the adjournment. " Microphone Technique " The second'reading debate on Tuesday and Wednesday nights was responsible for further interesting sidelights in the development of the "microphone technique." , , . , In some respects the broadcasting of debates is h'aving a peculiar effect on Parliamentary oratory. Mr. Semple moving the second reading on Tuesday night and Mr. Semple replying to the debate on Friday morning, seemed two entirely different persons. Faced with the microphones, the Minister discarded those verbal fireworks which rnaku hira one, of the most entertaining speakers in the House. Ho adhered rigidly to his notes, and, although his review of transport history in New Zealand and his survey of the provisions of the bill were both excellently done, he never appeared completely at his ease. On Friday the microphones were still suspended above the floor of the Houjje, 'but they were dead, and Mr. gem]>le threw himself into the verbal affray with joyous abandon. A natural sequel to the introduction of Parliamentary broadcasting has been more careful preparation of speeches by members who are granted "microphone privileges." This in itself has led to a tendrccy for members to read their speeches, which, of course, is contrary to tile rules of the House. Mr. Coates in Opposition Ail the session progresses there is mor<} and more proof that the lU. Hon. J. G;. Coates is the dominating personal foroj in the Opposition. He has led the attack on practically all the Government's major policy pleasures, and, aMiiugh he ijHo all intents and purpose! only a private member of the Opposition; he is its hardest-working member, just as he was in the last Government. His work so far this session has entirely disproved the suggestion" that he was likely to take a back seat, and lends even more interest to his political future. Another busy period is ahead of Parliament this week. A Monday sitting was actually contemplated, but important business has to be transacted by tie Cabinet to-morrow and in addition the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, has to leave in the evening for Hamilton, where he will open the Waikato White Show on Tuesday. When Parliament resumes on Tuesday after the week-end recess the, Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, will act for the first time as leader of the Houso.

As previously stated, the third reading oj" the Transport Licensing Amend- • ment Bill will probably be taken on Tuesday afternoon, and subsequently the House is likely to proceed with the second reading debate on the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, which at present is the only other major policy, measure remaining on the order paperTwo Hew Bills However, at least two new bills are expected to appear this week, so there will be no lack of business confronting members. The Mortgage Corporation Amendment Bill will probably be introduced on Tuesday. The measure, which provides for complete State ownership of tho corporation and its reconstruction filong the lines of the State Ad- • vancets Department to take over all V. the binding activities of the Government, has already been approved by- a caucun of Government members.

A further bill dealing with the readjustment of mortgages on the basia of tho guaranteed price for dairy products should, appear within the next few (lays. The Government's temporary rent relief legislation, designed to protect house tenants from evictions without the authority of a magistrate, js also being prepared and majr be introduced early this week. All these three new measures, in addition to the Transport Bill and the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, are to be passed before the House adjourns for the proposed mid-winter recess, and the Government also wishes to put through a short Finance Bill, one clause of which will provide for the issuing of a general order restoring all salaries and wages to the 1931 level. The mortgage bills in particular We 'Certain to be strongly contested "J the Opposition, and the general opinion in Parliamentary circles is that the adjournment will not be taken before the second week in June.