THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Wednesday, June 27, 1945. PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25881, 27 June 1945, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES Wednesday, June 27, 1945. PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Parliament will to-day begin what is commonly described as its working session, the second in its life of three years, and although there has been as yet no great indication of the legislation which it is the intention of the Government to introduce it is already apparent that some of the measures to be placed before members for their consideration will be of a more controversial nature than has been the case during the years of the war in Europe. No doubt has been left in the minds of the people of the determination of the Government to implement the decision of the Labour Party Conference that the privatelyowned shares of the Bank of New Zealand must be acquired by the State. Mr Langstone, with unusual vehemence even for the champion of such a cause, has already prepared the country for the introduction of relevant legislation, the exact nature of which has still to be made clear by the Minister of Finance. It can confidently be assumed; however, that this latest move by the Socialist Government to advance further along the road to complete State control will be strenuously resisted by the Parliamentary Opposition, hacked by all those sections of the community that see in the maintenance and development of private enterprise the way to a secure and prosperous future for the Dominion. Piquancy will be lent to the situation by the fact that, when the Government persists in its scheme, the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, himself a declared opponent of a . State-possessed bank, will have the task of piloting the measure through the House. The Government has also announced its intention of introducing a Bill to provide a minimum family income. Such a measure, if placed on the Statute Book at this time, could, with reason, be regarded as one designed as much for the purpose of “ vote-catching ” as for providing increased spending power for lower-paid families. It is not unlikely that the Government is already turning its eyes towards the general election next year. An indication of this has already been provided by the hint that alterations may be made to the country quota, legislation regarding which would increase .the chances, at present rather slim, of Labour being retained in power. Opponents of such an attejnpt argue rightly that it is illogical to alter the country quota at a time when thousands of men are out of the country on military service and when, owing to the demands of industry in wartime, there is an abnormal concentration of workers in the towns. The Address-in-Reply and financial debates which may be expected to occupy, as is usual, a considerable portion of the time of Parliament, will provide members with the opportunity of seeking information on many aspects of the Government’s administration and policy about which both the House and the people are entitled to precise and unequivocal answers. Not the least important of the questions which, it may be apprehended, will be raised during the session is that of the future of the Second Division whose role, it has been stated by the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defence, is bound up with plans for intensifying the war against Japan. The extent to which wartime controls and restrictions are to be now that the major part of the world struggle has been successfully concluded, and the Government’s policy with regard to the rationing of supplies and to import licensing, are other matters concerning which the House will undoubtedly seek enlightenment.