30 PUBLIC ACTS PASSED

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 6

30 PUBLIC ACTS PASSED

Important Amending Legislation

POLITICAL CLASHES DURING SESSION LABOUR ADOPTS DEFENSIVE TACTICS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 10. After three months of strenuous work Parliament adjourned today for the Christmas recess. Actually only one half of the session has been completed, but the passage of legislation and the passings of millions of pounds of pub - lic expenditure easily constituted the equivalent of a full session’s work. Because of the onerous legislative programme still confronting them, members of the House of Representatives have fully earned their few weeks of holiday.

In the normal course the first and third sessions of Parliament are generally regarded as “talking” sessions, and the second session is looked on as a period of real legislative work In this Parliament, with a Labour Government in office for the first time in New Zealand’s political history, the established order has been changer’ to some extent. Last year’s session saw the Government intent on putting its political philosophy into practice at the earliest possibie moment with the result that its own members were largely silent in debate. The legislation introduced this session has been more in the nature of a superstructure erected on last year’s foundation and this factor, together with the influence of broadcasting, has meant a torrent of talk. Nevertheless, the House has done well to pass 30 public Acts in the last three months, in addition to its effort in dealing with matters of routine business. The list of legislation passed to date is as follows:— PUBLIC ACTS Agricultural (Emergency Regulations) Confirmation. Agricultural Workers Amendment. Air Department. Air Force Appropriation. Army Board. Broadcasting Amendment. Coal Mines Amendment.. Companies (Special Liquidations) Extension. Dog Registration Amendment. Electoral Amendment. Fair Rents Amendment. Finance. Imprest Supply. Industrial Conciliation and Abritration Amendment No. 2 and No. 3. Land and Income Tax (Annual). Mining Amendment. Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Amendment. Petroleum. Physical Welfare and Recreation. Primary Products Marketing Amendment. Sale of Wool. School of Agriculture. Sovereign’s Birthday Observance. State Advances Corporation Amendment. Trade Agreement (New Zealand and Germany) Ratification. LOCAL ACTS Auckland Electric Power Board Amendment. Auckland Harbour Board Loan and Empowering. Christchurch Domain Amendment. Christchurch Tramway Board Empowering. Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Amendment. Hamilton Borough Council Empowering Amendment. Motueka Borough Council Empowering. Napier Harbour Board Loan Amendment. New Plymouth Airport. New Plymouth Borough Council Empowering. Ngaruawahia Borough Council Empowering. Taupiri Drainage and River District Amendment.

Thames Valley Drainage Board Empowering. Timaru Harbour Board Loan Amendment. Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Amendment. Wellington City Empowering and Amendment. Whangarei Airport. PRIVATE ACTS Cawthron Institute Trust Board Rating Exemption. Church of England Trusts Amendment. Hamilton Parsonage Site Amendment. Nelson Diocesan Trust Board Empowering. Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees (Church of England) Empowering. The record of work done does not show any of those sweeping changes which appeared in last year’s legislation, but some of the amending Acts this session were of considerable importance. Proposals such as those dealing with the restriction of the rights of landlords, the extension of State control over the marketing of all primary products and the provision of additional facilities for State housing all proved exceedingly controversial and in several other minor directions there were sharp clashes of political opinions. There were times when the atmosphere in the House became somewhat strained, but in view of all the circumstances that was only to be expected. PROGRESS OF OPPOSITION However, apart from all considerations of political argument, it appeared that the Government was gradually being forced to adopt the defensive. Last year it was able to bring forward its legislation and contrast its possible effects with the results of the previous Government’s administration. This year’s session has demonstrated very clearly that it does not take more than 12 months for a Government to build up a political past. So far Labour members have stuck resolutely to their convictions and in the House they have given unswerving allegiance to their leaders. On the other hand ’the Opposition has unquestionably made progress. It has had a greater fund of political ammunition than it possessed last year and with a greater degree of team work it has been able to use this ammunition very effectively. Proof of this was supplied in the debates on broadcasting nolicy, taxation and State marketing. In spite of the volume of work already transacted, the most difficult part of the session lies ahead. When Parliament resumes in March the House will be called on to deal with such matters as national superannuation and health insurance, changes in the taxing system and educational reforms, and there are indications that

numerous other matters will have to receive consideration, unless the Government decides on an early election. It would not be surprising if Parliament was to remain in session for the greater part of next year.