PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21425, 20 June 1931, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THE COMING SESSION GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE UNCERTAIN EARLY LEGISLATION Probably never before in the history of New Zealand has the general public been so interested in political affairs as' at the present time, and the coming session of Parliament, which will commence on Thursday afternoon next, promises to hold the attention of thousands of electors from beginning to end. At the present time it would be foolish for anyone to attempt to forecast what the session will ■ bring forth, because, while the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) has already mentioned legislation to be brought before the House early in the session, there is a persistent rumour that the Government will retire from office before the session has progressed .very far. It is well-known that the Labour Party is anxious to bring about a general election as soon as possible, but (here does not appear to be any apparent reason for either of the other two main parties in the House to work in that direction. The Prime Minister has mentioned measures that must come before the House during the session, and the Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates), while refusing Mr Forbes’s offer of fusion, has made it quite clear that he will support the Government in all reasonable measures. Consequently Mr Forbes cannot plead inability to carry on. According to one observer there appears to be only one reason why Mr Forbes should consider resigning, and that would be an admission of defeat. By sending in his resignation and recomhiending Mr Coates as his successor he would be in a position to go to Mr Coates and offer to bring as many of his party as would follow him under a “National” banner to Mr Coates's support. Such a course would obviously be an admission that he believed he would otherwise be faced with annihilation at the coming general election.

Early Measures. In the event of the session running its usual course the House will have to grant supply before any other business is dealt with, and the first Imprest Bill will probably come down next Friday, or at latest on Monday, June 29. If it is brought before the House on the latter date the sitting will probably continue until it is passed. A no-confidence motion based on the inadequate funds for the relief of unemployment is almost sure to come from the Labour Party during the debate, but there is no likelihood of the Reform Party giving any support to such a move. In the ordinary course of events the Address-in-Reply debate would follow after the Imprest Bill, but under the existing circumstances the Address-in-Reply debate will probably be adjourned to admit the introduction of an amendment to the Unemployment Act, or at least to permit the unemployment situation to be discussed. It is now’ generally considered that the Government will have to consider increasing the levy made under the Act,, and if that course is adopted an amending Bill will be necessary. While many members of the House are not altogether in favour of an increase, because of the heavy burden it would place on the lower paid workers and unemployed, there does not appeal t.d be any reason to suppose that such an amendment would not go through all stages and reach the Statute Book. Mr Forbes has already stated that the main business of the session will centre around taxation proposals aimed at balancing the Budget, and that a large amount of general business will be brought before the House. The Transport Bill, which appeared two years ago and was shorn of everything but the bare essentials necessary for the setting up of a Transport Department, is to appear again, and it is sure to lead to a great deal of discussion. Legislation dealing with banking and currency will not be introduced, Mr I’orbcs has stated, but Sir Otto Niemeyer’s report will be laid on the table of the House and members will be given an opportunity to discuss its contents. f

Another measure mentioned by Mr Forbes was ‘the Trading Coupons Bill, which was introduced during the special session and later dropped, and, according to Mr Forbes, the Government has not yet decided whether or not this measure will be gone on with. The General Election. The' three political parties are all actively engaged in preparing for the general election at the present time, and candidates have been announced from all parts of the country. The Labour Party evidently regards the present situation as a propitious one insofar as it appears to Labour supporters to hold out more promise for the capture of the reins of office than ever before. The secretary of the party (Mr Walter Nash, M.P. for Hutt) has stated that the party intends to put. up a candidate in every electorate where there is a local organization willing to finance the campaign. About 40 Labour candidates have been selected already, and selection ballots are pending in several other electorates.

The intentions of Labour in regard to an early election have been freely commented upon, and at least two Labour members have publicly expressed the opinion that the party will support Reform if that party makes a move to hasten the general election. The rumour regarding early changes on the benches was mentioned by one Labour member, who told the meeting he was addressing that there would be an early dissolution of Parliament.

Already about 50 Reform candidates have been selected to contest various seats, and it is anticipated that at least 60 will be selected before Parliament opens. It is also definitely stated from United Party official sources that the party intends putting up candidates in as many electorates as possible.