A CURTAILMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 6

A CURTAILMENT

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY PRIME MINISTER’S r , ENDEAVOURS OTTAWA BUSINESS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 26. Difficulties have been experienced by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) who has been endeavouring to secure an agreement for the curtailing of the Address-in-Reply debate, which will be opened in the House of Representatives to-morrow evening. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland) states that he cannot speak for the members of the Labour Party, many of whom were away for the week-end and Mr Forbes finds himself in a similar position regarding his followers. In view, however, of the late opening of the session, the Prime Minister’s opinion is that the debate will not be a long one, but even with a moderate number of speakers it will last until the end of this week. Every effort will be made to prevent it running into next week. Some doubt now exists as to whether it will be possible to present the report on the Ottawa agreements and secure passage of the Customs resolutions arising therefrom as soon as was expected. A cable message from Australia indicated that the Commonwealth Parliament will not have the Ottawa business before it until October 13, but whether New Zealand is bound to release the details of its concessions to Great Britain simultaneously is »k t certain. If the Ottawa report has to be delayed the Prime Minister will present the report of the Economy Commission immediately the debate on the Address-in-Reply motion concludes. Although he is hopeful that it will be possible to deal with the Ottawa business first, the Budget will be the next item of importance to come before the House, but no date has been fixed for its presentation. “There will be no surprises in the Budget,” said Mr Forbes, when questioned to-day. He said the remaining financial statement of the year would, generally speaking, bring up to date th? April statement, but it would be found that there would be no further need for stringent readjustments, such as marked the previous 12 months

Asked whether the Government was finding it possible to keep the estimated deficit for the year down to £2,000,000 as predicted, Mr Forbes said it was possible to give an assurance that the shortage would not be greater than anticipated. Whether it could be reduced remained to be seen.