THE NEW HOUSE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20283, 5 December 1935, Page 8

THE NEW HOUSE

OPENING SESSION IN FEBRUARY A FAIRLY HEAVY PROGRAMME By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 4. There will be no session of Parliament before the end of the midsummer holidays. It now appears certain that the new' House of Representatives will not be called on to meet until the middle of February. The Prime Minister-Elect, Mr M J Savage, stated to-day that he was satisfied that the new Government did not require legislation to provide for the increased benefits to the unemployed over the Christmas season. Much routine work would have to be done before the first session of the new Parliament. In accordance with the Labour Party’s policy, its members in the House would be formed Into small committees to assist the Ministers, and in this respect attention would be paid to their individual interests. When the House meets next year there is likely to be a fairly heavy legislative programme. The Labour Party is desirous of implementing its main points of policy as soon as possible, although Mr Savage has stated that he will not use his commanding majority to rush measures through the House. He undertakes to give the general public as well as Parliament ample time to consider the significance of all the proposed legislation. There is a distinct possibility that as soon as routine matters have been attended to, Mr Savage will make a hurried tour of most of the main centres of the Dominion. The point is raised that some policy measures may have been obscured by the inevitable dust of the election campaign, and it is thought advisable that they should be made clear to the country. In any case Mr Savage hopes to spend Christmas in Auckland. The first meeting of the new Labour Cabinet will be held on Saturday morning. Thereafter both general policy statements and announcements from individual Ministers may be expected at fairly frequent intervals. It is unlikely that the first Labour Government in New Zealand will alter the traditional rule regarding the bestowal and acceptance of knighthoods and other titles. Mr Savage said today that tradition still held its place in the hearts of many people. Its importance could be over-emphasised, but personally he did not see anything wrong in the granting of honours which had come to be sanctioned by tradition.