PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY SESSION

SEVEN WEEK ADJOURNMENT CABINET’S BIG TASK. . . — . - .. . ' : . .. y. 'j - '■ .-. -a .' MORE EMERGENCY MEASURES. /... - ! “ < . : r::.:,

Parliament*, adjourned, for seven weeks , on Friday evening with an air of don,-but the general anxiety of members over the seriousness ‘of the economic , situation and .the' difficult nature .. of the decisions in which-they, will be asked.to - concur after the resumption,;.was {thinly disguised, states the Wellington. Doming ion. Between now and Jammry. inet will be engaged in framing further ' </( emergency measures, and there was not one among those who left for their homes > over the 'week-end • who was-n'ot-' cqn--"» Jj vinced that Parliament would be put to? ’* a severe test early in the New Year devising?ways and means of. meeting *.", very acute position. ©' - Many feverish hours were -?^pent ; during the couple of days ,tho >»’g adjournment was taken* A last-minute gesture, was, made ..by the -labour ; Party on- the. Finance Bill, rather obviously used- to give - express sion to many opinions which had -been > ? bottled up during , the consideration‘of . ■ technical legislation \ throughout ”.• the . <? eleven weeks of the session up to. the ( adjournment. Regarded in retrospect, the session has not been productive.,'bF, ' very much - useful- legislation so fat. 'A '? ? ? total of 20 Government Bills and-three local Bills has "been passed; but,.one.<of; the most marked features ,of the ; busi-i ■ , ■ ness up to fhe presertt has been ,yi’ (placid ; consideration ' of measures of minor importance.. The Customs Amend- , ment Act, giving effect to the Ottawa resolutions, was the most important'to be put through,/although, .apart from ' the Urban, Farm '■ Land■ Rating. ! Act' «d the Hospital - and. Charitable Institution* a . ; Amendment -Act, there was nothing which demanded immediate attention. ■ 7 ' ■ -7. 77 LEGISLATION. HELD : OVER.; , Fifteen Government measurer: 7 Sijthe Order Paper for. attention after^the - * \ ; resumption,: but as Parliament. 7 , ; then be fully occupied with, the .;W ency - legislation it-is, doubtful .whetgifer ’-./-j: very many-of these wdtibe .taken .any further. At-the moment the most .important: measures already in print are the ' Reserve;..' Bank Bill, the .Govern* ment Superannuation Funds Bill, ’ /. j the Small Farms ..(Retief of Unem-,< ployment) Bill. ‘ ' These all- form a-definite, part in {-th* : policy programme; initiated ■? by ;.?S after the 'formation of the Coalition#'? and which is still being view of the more direct interest 7in national finances'.which has; 1 been forced, . upon the State by the depression, it/is? '. . • considered in Cabinet circles that -4, central bank might be of real • assist^ •*. ance during the present difficult period.... . . in securing financial co-operationwhich itis felt ,is harder ..to obtain under--the / present system.. ‘ ‘ ?7 However, the Reserve Bank will not be j ready to function fully' until ' about- a- 7. year after the-Bill is put through, so that the Government will be forced to work ’ . as.wellas it. can-with the..existing .bank-., ing--and credit machinery.’ . . - . - More ‘ immediate importance:; attaches ; .i to the Small Farms, Bi)l,. whose pro- i gross through Parliament .... will , { h* -.: ;■ watched with .interest in Mew of. the-far-reaching proposals contained .in for the acquisition by tJie.Stnte;fpr''settiement purposes of .land not; being quately used.--Although^-iflrSt sW this provision .appears. revolutionary, -fl has beeh'showh that similar power: was taken by the United Kingdom Govern- .- , ntent many years ago, and,dt is ; j sised that- it, would not be-, availed of , except -as a last resource. ; . 7 ' , . . - . ' ; .; POSSIBILITIES .OF ..SCHEME. . '7? The -Government is convinced, that -.7 settlement.- oh - small holdings "i Hal if .unemployment -is .to .be -attacKert... . so as to . bring about a permanent re- .' duction in -the-number of ';?:*!?.? though. i£-;is difficult .to" what can be done under, the simll. farms scheme, it is believed in < 2 circles that between. 4000 and : SOTQ« : families can-be placed on the land wiffi-in-’about‘ two years. .Mr. .Coates^.has; i given nearly all .his time ,\tp preparing ,71 the plan during recent spending, long hours.; considering general / policy' questions. affecting not - only un; 7 employment specifically., but -economic ; problems of which -unemployment forms : P Ministers of the Crown will have few spare moments during the seven.-w«to, f -. adjournment, for, it is hoped- to, ready with, a complete plan when the , House resumes. The outlook is :aw- ? : nowledged to be most serious, but , the Government, does not by ..any.rnejjps gard it as without hope. There -is a definite opinion in Cabmet. the country is.-“bumpingy'on tom,” and that although covery must be long • and tortitoh*the country can, -by sacrifices, take heart m the an improvement in the . •tion is.-within .sight. HELP FOR THE EXPORTERS. -” - { ' ‘ The present - belief of Cabinet, is. W..there will not .be a. great deal of emerr . ency -legislation required next although what does appear. will ,b. .. , vitally important. Naturally, the - Prop- -gg lenTwill be .tackled by assist exporters,, for- upon. fare -the prosperity, of eyeryone--.de-. pends. The Government is still ~ pressed with. the L efficacy oL a . system "atot:«2 be needed this financial year if any relief is to be given, and . the banks would.be wilbtog to assist to this extent. What rate of interest .th*,. - Government .would be prepared to pay . j Government is coni 1 1 too great a disparity,7 prices, and it . can be taken for graced ; ; ffiat another attempt.by badge will be made in the New Year, probably by carrying a stage further -.the tion passed earlier this year. , ,7 <. — 1 .'