LIFE OF PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 23 July 1934, Page 12

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT.

Keen Debate Expected in the House. (“ Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Julv 22. The subject of the life of Parliament is likely to be keenly debated in the House of Representatives this week. Two measures dealing with different phases of the question are on the order paper, one being the Prime Minister’s Bill to extend permanently the life of Parliament to four years and the other being that of the leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) who has introduced a measure designed to terminate the life of the present Parliament this year, thus retaining the former system of three year Parliaments. Mr Forbes’s Bill will be the first to be introduced. It will appear on Tuesday and it is anticipated that it will be the subject of a lively debate. Whatever members of the Opposition may think about the advisability of the proposal, which-affects the future, they are certain to charge the Government with acting in an unconstitutional manner in extending the term of the present Parliament to four years. It is quite possible that the debate will fill the whole afternoon on Tuesday and as Mr Savage’s Bill is second on the order paper for Wednesday, a further attack on the Government is indicated for that day. Further Bills. Provided there is time on Tuesday afternoon, Mr C. H. Chapman (Labour. Wellington North) will introduce his Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, Mr W. A. Veitch (Independent, Wanganui) will introduce an amendment to the Mortgagors’ and Tenants’ Relief Act, the Hon E. A. Ransom will introduce a measure to protect native plants, and Mr W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) will introduce a Bill to amend the Workers’ Compensation Act. If all these are brought in, the unfinished debate on unemployment, initiated by the motion of Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) to introduce his Unemployment Amendment Bill, will be continued. Five Government measures set down for consideration the same day include the British Nationality and Statues of Aliens (in New Zealand) Amendment, the Mutual Fire Insurance Amendment, the Opticians’ Amendment, the Stock Remedies Bill and the Poisons Bill. Besides Mr Savage’s Electoral Bill, there are three other measures set down for Wednesday. These include Mr W. J. Poison’s Meat Export Amendment, which will probably be postponed as the Government intends to introduce a similar measure, Mr C. W. Clinkard’s Electoral Amendment providing for preferential voting, and Mr J. O’Brien’s Invalid Pensions Bill. New legislation to be brought down during the week includes an overhaul of the Mining Act, an amendment to the Meat Slaughtering and Inspection, and a Finance Bill. The Budget. Active steps are now being taken in the preparation of the Budget, which is still in the hands of the Treasury. It is anticipated that it will be brought down at the end of this month or early in August. The Customs Bill, giving effect to the resolutions already passed, will also come down early next month and it is possible that the financial debate, which follows the Budget, will begin before the Customs Bill is brought down. The stream of deputations concerning the new Customs duties still continues, and another batch will be heard by the Minister of Customs (the Right lion J. G. Coates) on Monday.