“RESIGN!”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20453, 5 November 1934, Page 7

“RESIGN!”

Labour to Attack Cabinet. NATIVE AFFAIRS. “ SYSTEM THAT PERMITTED IRREGULARITIES.” (“Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The resignation of the Government will be demanded by the Labour Opposition when the report of the Native Affairs Commission is discussed in the House on Tuesday'. It is expected that an amendment wdll be tabled on these lines, the Opposition taking the view’ that the long and continued system which permitted irregularities is more to blame than any Minister or State servant. On the other hand, the Government can take credit for promptly’ amending the law about a year ago. when the Auditor-General called attention to the comprehensive nature of the Native Minister’s powers in relation to Native land development schemes and other operations, control being then transferred from the Minister to the Native Land Settlement Board, which has since ketively functioned. Sir Apirana Ngata is expected to take part in the debate and make a statement regarding his position, but his speech is likely to be one of the shortest in what is sure to be a very’ long discussion. The Biggest Problem. The biggest problem before the Government before the session can end is the necessary modification in the Agriculture (Emergency’ Powers) Bill, which, it is generally’ conceded, could not be passed as it stands despite the Government majority for the second reading. Only’ one Government supporter changed sides on that occasion, but the majority would have been much narrower but for the understanding that Cabinet was considering a complete revision of the section constituting the Agricultural Executive Commission and that a further partycaucus would be held to consider the final proposals. This is expected to take place to-night. While Cabinet still has the troublesome section under review’, there is a general understanding that one important modification is to be a definite provision that the existing power of the control boards w-ill not be restricted. The Bill itself greatly widens the powers of the Dairy’ Board and its reconstitution carries a solid body of support in Parliament. As for the Executive Commission, it confidently’ assumed that the Government has dropped the idea of placing its powers in the hands of three nominees from outside Parliament. Alternatives Discussed.

Several alternatives are being discussed. There is a possibility of including the chairman of the Meat and Dairy Boards with another outside nominee, but the plan meeting with most favour is to secure direct Parliamentary representation by including the Minister of Trade and Commerce and the Minister of Agriculture The most important function of the new body' will be trade extension, particularly- through the negotiation of trade agreements with other countries. Therefore, a prominent part will be played by the Hon R. Masters, who has shown great activity in these respects as Minister of Trade and Commerce.

At the present stage, it is difficult to forecast the final shape of the provisions, though it is clear that they will constitute an important departure from the original form in which they were presented to a highly critical House.