THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1921, Page 7

THE COMING SESSION.

THREE IMPORTANT ISSUES. RETRENCHMENT, THE TARIFF, AND THE TOTALISATOR. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey is not expected to arrive in Wellington till October 5. Hence it is considered that Parliament, which will have dispensed with the Ad-dress-in-Reply before his return, though it will hardly have time to deal with much else. It is understood that the debate on the Armour and Co. correspondence will not take place until the Prime Minister is able to be present, and the same applies to the report of the Gaming Commission. It was pointed out to a Wellington Times representative that the Act under which the Commission was set up provided that its recommendations would be rendered void if either House disapproved them; and uis questioned whether the recommendations can be amended without jeopardising the report as a whole, and thus restoring the status quo as regards totalisator permits. Should the members who oppose an increase in the number of such permits combine with those who strongly object to the extinction of various clubs, they may constitute a majority of the House, and thus imperil the report as a whole. It is’considered doubtful whether these two parties, approaching the question from such very different angles, can agree upon any feasible amendment of the recommendations.

THE TARIFF BILL. Mr. Massey stated definitely last session his intention of taking charge of the Tariff Bill. It is anticipated that the measure will be ready for introduction on his arrival in Wellington; but the Prime Minister will no doubt require to study the Bill in its final form before bringing it down, consequently it is hardly likely to be introduced before well towards the end of October. The Manufacturers’ Association and others interested in the measure may also wish to give further evidence in addition to- that already given before the Tariff Commission, when they have seen the actual Bill.

If the Bill as a whole is to be disposed of this coming session, Parliament will probably have to adjourn over Christmas and sit well into the New Year. But, since the revised tariff, once the Bill is presented, will become operative by resolutions of both Houses, the Government may, following the Australian Commonwealth precedent, content itself with passing the tariff resolutions this year, and carry the Tariff Bill over till the 1922 session.

The important matter of retrenchment is sure to be introduced, and many suggestions put forward as to how expenditure of public moneys can be reduced.

In any case, it is not anticipated that, the session having been left so late, many Government, let alone private, measures can be dealt with.