REAL BUSINESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25345, 29 October 1945, Page 6

REAL BUSINESS

WORK OF PARLIAMENT VIGOROUS DEBATES' FASTER PACE EXPECTED (SR.) WELLINGTON, ' In the 18th week of the present s sion, Parliament has at last ssttW down to real business and interest the proceedings has heightened app rec ? ably, with tho Opposition fightin® strenuously and • the Government " • taliating strongly. There have tw" many indications during the past week that the Government is determined to expedite the business of the House and from now on the pace will be accelerated steadily until the session finishes in the usual flurry of legislation.

For the second week in succession the Electoral Amendment Bill, with jt s abolition of the country quota and rp vision or electorates on the basis of adult population, overshadowed the rest of the business. After being comparatively quiet throughout this session, the Opposition appeared to have been mi vanised into action and is using everv form within the bounds of "Parlia mentary procedure to attack the prj n * ciples of this contentions measure. The" bill already has resulted in the stojm iest debates of the session, with more lively periods in prospect. Five Divisions It is obvious that the Opposition is timing its most virile debates for the major legislation now making an appearance. It successfully blocked the formal introduction of the bill when it came into the House bv GovernorGeneral's message during the previous week, the first time in 15 years that these tactics have been adopted. When the bill again came before the' House on Thursday night the Opposition immediately made its intentions clear bv calling for a division within less than a minute of the House having resumed Before the House adjourned shortly before midnight the division belts had rung on four other occasions. On the other hand, the Government soon made it plain that it intended forcing the measure through. The Prime Minister, Mr Eraser, immediately moved that urgency should be taken and after discussion had waxed strong for about four hours he moved the application of the closure. This is the first time that these tactics have been resorted to during this session and the motion was greeted with an uproar of disapproval frori Opposition benches. Government Majority

With the assistance of the only Independent in the House, Mr H. Atmore (Nelson), the Government had a margin of six votes in ail the divisions, the Whips having ensured that all me®, hers were available on this vital measure. With the present working majority of the Government, which was strengthened on Friday by the return to the House of Mr T. P. Paikea (Gov-, ermnent —Northern Maori), there is no doubt that the bill will 20 through, but the' Ppposition is determined to use every opportunity of contesting the" issije. Feelings -liai'ei,-.Jiot run so high this session as during'^.-this debate. The Speaker, the Hon. F. W. Schramm, had a busy time dealing with a continuous stream of intt^r in the debate 011 Thiirsd&ffiUanMliP admonished members and it was just as well that proceedings were not being broadcast, as they would not bring credit on the House. Outstanding among the contributions to the debate was the address of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, who spoke simply but most forcefully and refused to be side-Vacked by persistent Government interjekors. The bill has now been read\a first time and the second reading debate is set down for Wednesday. Expected Legislation

Apart from the decision to take urgency for this bill and the application of the closure, there were other straws in the wind during last week which indicated that the Government is anxious to complete the session. The motion by the Prime Minister on Wednesday that Government business should take precedence on and after next Wednesday is usually taken as the first indication of the approaching end of the session. It has been introduced much later this session than usual. Urgency • also was taken for the passing of the Employment Bill, the other principal business of the House for th'ef week. Another week has passed® without the introduction of the coming legislation, but the Prime Minister made it clear on Friday thai some important measures could be expected this week. It is thought that both the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill and the Baiik of New Zealand Bill are nearly '

ready for presentation. If the session is to finish by the end of November the tabling of at least some of the Government's long list of impending legislation cannot long be delayed.

KAITAIA'S FIRST MAYOR ELECTION OF COUNCIL (0.C.) _ KAITAIA, Sunday There was comparatively heavy polling yesterday at the first election of Mayor and council in the recentlyconstituted borough of Kaitaia, 502 of approximately 800 electors on the roll casting their votes. For Mayor, Mr J. T. B. Taaffe, a former town board chairman for many years, was elected with 259 votes, while Mr D. Archibald, sen., the the board at its dissolution, secured 241 votes. Polling for the six seats on the Borough Council resulted: —Elected: WV Marsh, 402; F. Weber, 38S;. T. G. Quilter, 368; L. G. Thompson, 312; Q. B. McKinnon. 254; A. E. Foster, 2,7. ÜBSuccessftil: E. M. Clark, 263; E. F. W. Perry, 153; I. T. Clark, 131. Messrs Weber and Quilter were the only members of the previous toirn board who sought election to the council. SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS SERVICEMEN TO BENEFIT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Saturday The University of New Zealand has received advice that the Rhodes trustees have agreed to award this y® ar two special scholarships for _ recommended servicemen. Applications ior these scholarships have been called ana close with registrars of university colleges on the last day of this month.. The British Council has now requested the university to call for applications for special ous-year scholarships aval - able to men and women. Apphcan may be university graduates, though t verv special cases persons with other high qualifications in music or in drama may bo accepted. ~ The British Council scholarships, though for one year only, are normally rather more valuable than .the .trave - ling scholarships of the University New Zealand. The council has asked the Senate to forward ten names, fro^ which a final selection will he made. - all, the British Council will distribute 25 such scholarships among applies" from the British Dominions.. -^PP' 1C * tions will close with the university December 1.

PERSONAL ITEMS Mr H. W. Chambers, registrar of the Social Security Department ton. has been transferred to Welling Mr L. P. Turner, Auckland district rehabilitation officer, has left for v ingtou to attend a Dominion conter _ on rehabilitation. - . . Mr C. G. S. Ellis, Auckland distrtf manpower officer, left last iuga t . Wellington to attend a Dominion ference on rehabilitation. Dr W. S. Robertson, director 0 orthopaedic services at the " e " Hospital, has been appointed „ staff of ijnrra and will leave AeW land early next month.