COMING SESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22968, 21 February 1938, Page 14

COMING SESSION

mm FPB pakha»ewt LABOUR CONVENTIONS NATIONAL SUPERANNUATION EDUCATION AND TRANSPORT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Sunday Although the reopening of the session is only a little more than a week away, the details of the legislative programme are not available, but the major items j to bo dealt with arc well enough known. It is expected that one of the first tasks for the Prime Minister, tju: LU. Hon. M. J. Savage, when lie rpsumes his duties to-morrow after liis illness, will bo to draw up the tentative form this schedule of new bills will take. It seems to have been already decided that the first job for Parliament \yljep it resumes at the beginning of next month will be to ratify 'J'J of the international conventions adopted over a long period of years by the International Labour Conference. ihe cpjiycfitjpns tq bp flpalf wi£h I}*}?? tyepn selected bepausp tjiejr Fatjficatipi} ivjjl not involve ijeiy legjsjptipfi. Controversial Subjects It is expected that the discussion on the conventions will keep the House busy for at least two days. Sonie of them deal with controversial subjects, particularly those affecting conditions of labour in certain industries. An explanatory memorandum of all the conventions is being prepared and probably will be circulated to members before the House sits. fly far the most important bill to be (Jiscussed will be that dealing with Ijatipnpl superannuation and health ip6|irane.e. flip preparation of the super? animation spctipp pf this legislation I s far ifdvapped and, according tq anlioiiqcenients reepptjy by tlfe Prime " Minister, will be introduced early in March. A prptractpq is expected op this jncaspfp. Another important bill will deal with extensive alterations to thp transport hp v. Its provisions, judging from remarks made by the Minister of iransp'prt, Hop. 11. Semple, will include proposals for sterner penalties tor traffic offences and changes designed to bring about greater safety on the highways. Tlijs bill will alsq include prp= posals for the compulsory registration of bicycles. Hot Challenge Expepted As drafted at present the bill contains provision to bring under tjie control of' the Transport Department the issuing of licences in boroughs and counties with 'a population of under (j(}()0. The Cabinet has yet to consider this proposal whicji, it is stated, is likely to be hotly challenged by some of the smajler authorities whose rev- ! en no would be vitally affected by sucJi a change. Parliament will also be asked tp deal with taxation legislation, embodying the promise of the Governjnent to rectify anomalies in the present incidence of major taxation. The Primp Minister has indicated that lie would like to have been able to go a good deal further than t|ipse proposals will allow' this session. As a preliminary to this revision, a sppcial poinmittce lias been investigating the whole field of taxation, although apparently this bill will deal mainly witn income taxation. It also seems certain that an education tpll making far-reaching reforms in the present system will lie introduced. This measure will be referred to tiip Education Committee of the House and reprpscptations will be heard from all interested parties. However, it is bv no means certain H?at time will be available for the hearing of all the evidence and fpr the mil to be reported back to tlie H^" s e! discussed there and passed before tlie mid-wintpr recess. . Australian Tradp Agreement The House might also be called op to deal very early in the session with the trade agreement between 5» T ew Zealand and Australia. Negotiations for this new agreement took place between the Minister of Customs,, the Hon. >V. Nash, and the Australian Minister of Trade and Customs. Hon. T. W. White, just before Christinas'. It is presumed that, if legislative action is necessary, simultaneous moves will bo madp in New Zealand apd Australia. Reports from Australia state that an arrangement was reached between' New Zealand and Australia to mal>e announcements of any agreement simultaneously in both Houses. There is a good deal of speculation about the length of the session, but it seems almost beyond doubt tljat it will take eight weeks to complete the business already available. Easter falls this year ill thp middle of April, and this" will involve probably a week's holiday. The indications are that it will be early in May before the House adjourns for the mid-winter recess, which will precede this year's normal session. This recess will be uppgually sjiprt because of the election this year.