GOOD PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22541, 5 October 1936, Page 10

GOOD PROGRESS

WORK OF SESSION BUSY WEEK AHEAD MR. NASH'S MANY DUTIES PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE. [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL HEPORTEIt] WELLINGTON, Saturday Although the sittings of the House of Representatives were confined to three days in the week just passed further substantial progress was made with the remaining work of the session. An even busier period is in prospect this week when, owing to the eailj departure of the Minister of I' inanee, the Hon. W. Nash, for London, an effort will be made to dispose of several important matters dealing with finance. The main features of last week's business were the passing of the two Land and Income Tax Rills and tlio opening of the second reading debate on the Industrial Efficiency Rill. In addition two measures were introduced, the Main Highways Amendment Rill giving the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 11. Semple, power to proceed with his scheme for the declaration of State highways, and another minor bill authorising the construction of the For-dell-Okoia deviation on the olling-ton-Now Plymouth railway line. Opposition's Good Fight

The passage of the taxation bills substantially in the form in which they were introduced was, of course, a foregone conclusion, but, nevertheless, the Opposition put up by far its best fight of the session. There was well defined team work and something in the nature of a tactical triumph was scored by keeping back the speech of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition— Kaipara) until practically the end of the debate. By this time the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, had already spoken and as Air. Nash was absent from the chamber there was no one to reply effectively to the points raised by Mr. Coates.

Throughout the debate Government speakers had obvious difficulty in reconciling election promises with legislative performance in regard to taxation and with its limited debating strength the Opposition was able to make an excellent showing. Industrial Control Plan There was practically a full day's debate on the industrial Efficiency Bill on Thursday, but in the main the discussion was somewhat nebulous and lacking in character. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, certainly set a new longdistance record in loquacity in the speech of two hours and 20 minutes with which he opened the second reading, but Mr. S. G. Holland (Christchurch North), who outlined the case for the Opposition, was inclined to be apologetic in his criticism of the bill. The main point of attack which he and subsequent speakers developed concerned the Government's proposals for the "bureaucratic control" of industry, but the mixed reception which the bill is receiving from represents-1 tives of industry itself seemed to ham- | per the Opposition in the presentation of its arguments. It seems reasonably certain that the bill will be proceeded with this session. Speeding Up Work There is every prospect that the work of the session will be speeded up» appreciably during the corning week. Mr. Nash, whose hours of work have become even longer as the session has proceeded, has now only four days of actual Parliamentary duty before his departure for England. During last week, in addition to piloting the taxation bills through the House and attending the Empire Air Mail Conference as one of the New Zealand Cabinet Committee concerned in the matter, the Minister was busily engaged in dealing with details of departmental activities before handing over his portfolios to the various other Ministers who will act for him in hisi absence. Another important matter dealt with by Mr. Nash last week was the question of the preliminary arrangements for the fixing of the guaranteed price for dairy products for next season. As announced in the Budget, a committee of exjierts has been set up to investigate the whole matter along the lines of procedure defined in the Primary Products Marketing Act, and Mr. Nash held a lengthy conference with this committee in order to explain fully the Government's view of points of detail which must be taken into consideration in the determination of next season's price. Efficiency of Department Although the Marketing Act was passed only a few months ago, Mr. Nash is able to leave for England with the complex machinery of a notable experiment in first-class running order. For the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Loo Martin, who will take over the administration of marketing from Mr. Nash, the work will be eompartaivcly simple. The Marketing Department, under the able, direction of Mr. G. A. Duncan, with the assistance of former officials of the Dairy Board, has already been built up to a high state of efficiency which in itself represents a considerable achievement.

The prospects are that this week will witness the introduction of tho second Finance Bill of the session .and also the appearance of the Supplementary Estimates. The Finance Bill is likely to contain a number of miscellaneous provisions of some importance, and one particular clause will provide for the validation of the appointment of Mr. Mark Silverstono to the directorate of the Reserve Bank. As the law stands at present, only a person, of British birth is eligible for appointment, whereas Mr. Silverstone is a British subject by naturalisation. Much "Still To Be Done"

The appearance of the Supplementary Estimates is always welcomed as an indication that a session of Parliament is drawing to a close, but they arc being brought down a little earlier than usual this year in order that they may he finalised before Mr. Nash's departure. • It seems probable that the coming week will be given over almost entirely to matters in which the Minister of Finance is directly interested. In that case, no great progress is likely to he made with the Industrial Efficiency Bill until next week.

Even when all these matters are dealt with, a fairly formidable array of business will still remain. The Main Highways' Amendment Bill is definitely to he passed, although the Local Body Reform Bill still to bo introduced may not bo proceeded with until next year. There will, be the usual quota of "washing up" legislation, and various other minor bills which will have to receive attention before the session is brought to a close.