THE SESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19871, 20 June 1927, Page 8

THE SESSION

A BUSY PROGRAMME Contentious Subjects Set Down for Discussion OUTLINE OF BUSINESS. [Special " chrm " < lS'\. Se '? ic *' 1 u, I WELLINGTON, June 19. “I look forward with confidence to a bu*sv and useful session,” declared I the Prime Minister at the conclusion ; o f a recent outline of the programme of legislation for the coming session. | :-ae limitations certainly poin. to session being a busy one, but whether . it will prove to be useful depends upon j the wav members of the Legis ature discharge their duties. They may have | a single eye to the glory of New .. a- , land, but there is always the risk that I thev will be myopic—it will probab . depend upon how matters are JU o ’’ , from the party point of view - , = The session will open on Thursday, but the Speech of his Excellency •«- • Governor-General will probably be interesting, not for what it contains, but , for what it does not contain. ( One of the issues which will undoubt- , ediv come before the House of Kepresentatives will be the action ot the . Pairv Control Board in instituting abtolul'e control of the esport ot dairy , iroduee and then having to retrace i.» steps as the result of what happened ■ n Tooley Street. Dairy control, in , fact, is in for a - ‘washing up, and it j ,s possible that Mr. Holland may allude , to this subject in a want of confidence | amendment. Should he do so Reform circles do not anticipate that he will ■ command any voting support from the Government side of the House, even though there are Reformers who may still believe in the merits of absolute control; in other words, party discipline will be sufficient to keep everybody ‘‘on side.” Tariff Revision. One of the principal legislative works of the session will be the revision ot .he Customs Tariff which, as is always the case, will be a long and arduous , process. Protectionists, free traders. ; an-i advocates of purely revenue-pro- , ducing tariffs are all active, and it is j certain that a fierce battle will be waged on points where farming and local manufacturing intcrets converge, especiallv as the farmers have not altogether a’kindly eye on high Customs barriers. The farming interests in the House are predominant. A Tariff Commission has been making inquiries during the recess to ascertain where adjustments may be effected and its report will soon be in the hands of the Government. "Whatever intentions the Government may have of completing the overhaul of’the Tariff this session, there is some talk of a petition being presented asking that revision be postponed until a Royal Commission has investigated the probable economic effects of any tariff change. Interwoven with the question of Customs tariff is the welfare of the secondary industries generally, and it is likely that legislation will be presented proposing means for the development of essential secondary industries.

Licensing. A Licensing Bill is expected to figure on this session’s programme, but it is not yet clear whether it will be on the lines of the measure introduced last year. That Bill, it will be recalled,, provided for extending the time between polls from three to six years if the electors were of that opinion. While such a proposal may meet with the wishes of the Trade it by no means satisfies Prohibitionists who, moreover, are anxious to see the middle, or State Control, issue eliminated from the bal-lot-paper. The Prime Minister, therefore, is faced with the interesting problem of how he can frame a Bill which will meet with the approval of two strongly opposed factions. The task is not easy, but then, Licensing Bills can be left to the free vote of the House. Bible-in-Schools. The question of Religious Exercises in Schools is to be revived this session. Last year, the Hon. L. M. Isitt’s Bill was narrowly defeated in the Legislative Council, and since then deaths, one new appointment, and the return of several Councillors to the Dominion have somewhat altered the position. The terms of appointment of six Councillors will expire within a few days, but it is generally thought that they will be reappointed, and another new appointment made, although this last point is not certain. The attitude which the Legislative Council will assume to a Bible-in-Schools Bill this session may be doubtful unless the Government appoints a sufficient number of Councillors to ensure its defeat, but it is practically assured that there is a majority of members of Lower House in favour of such a measure, and it is within the bounds of possibility that a Bill drawn on the lines of Mr. Isitt’s measure may make its first appearance this session in the House instead of in the Council. Daylight Saving. Last session Mr. T. K. Sidey’s Summer Time (Daylight-Saving) Bill was defeated on the casting vote of the Speaker of the Legislative Council. Mr. Sidey will probably feel himself in duty bonnd to introduce his pet lamb again this year, but during the recess the farmers’ unions have been waging war against the principle it contains, with a view to persuading members of Parliament that it should be shorn of both its good and its bad points this session, and unceremoniously slaughtered. Some months ago there was a controversy concerning the principles on which the Prisons Board works with respect to the release of prisoners, and it may be revived when Parliament meets. Something may be heard, too, concerning one or two appointments in the Public Service which have been the subjects of public discussion. Gaming matters will probably come before the House by the introduction of a private member’s Bill proposing the legalising of the publication of dividends, the telegraphing of bets to the course, and the use of the “double tote.” The Government, it is understood. is prepared to afford facilities for consideration of such a Bill. Hollowing on the report of the Boundary Commissioners a good deal may be expected on the question of South Island representation in the House and

an endeavour made to induce the Government to provide against the Government against the loss of further seats. The system of voting in local elections which was found tu be so unsatisfactory in many cases this year may also come under review. Parliament will be asked to ratify the Government’s proposal for the allocation of £1,000,060 to the cost of the Singapore naval base, and although the Labour Opposition will perhaps challenge this expenditure, the Government entertains no fear of the result. • There undoubtedly will be no end of ; criticism of the arbitration system, especially in regard to the question of preference tu unionists, and something ' may be said about a proposal to set up ; a Royal Commission to inquire into the .1 working of the Act which seems to be • finding favour in some quarters. The i Government will bring down certain ( amendments to the Act. Other Bills. [ An attempt will be made to improve ■ the Apprentices Act and a Bill will be brought down to give final shape to the Government’s desires with regard to the Agricultural College on which a compromise was made last session because of South Island fears regarding the status of Lincoln College. It is hoped that all difficulties will be surmounted this session. The Rural Advances Act is to be amended by giving further effect to the recommendations of the Rural Credits Commission, and the House will be asked to alter the present duties on flour, providing for a sliding scale of duties, so fixed that the rate of duty will increase when the ; price outside New Zealand falls and decrease when world prices increase. This will be the prelude to the abolition of dumping duties on imported flour. Legislation may also be introduced

dealing with the incidence of taxation, i but in view of the state of the country’s finances and the need for preserving them from undue strain a reduction in tax assessments is improbable. To reduce the heavy rate burden for the maintenance of roads proposals will be made designed to make the users of the roads assume a greater share of the burden. The petrol tax has its advocates and its opponents, too. It is also probable that a Bill will be submitted as a consequence of the report of the Committee of Inquiry which reported adversely on the operations of the Proprietary Articles Trade « Association. 1 Other Bills contemplated deal with education, fertilisers, rabbits and noxious weeds, seeds, shops and offices, shipping and seamen, apiaries, chemists, mining, and a number of other matters. Remembering that the Prime Minister himself stated in .1925 that he had no glittering programme to offer, no [“window dressing” items, and that i last session saw the passage of the [chief planks ef his legislative platform for this Parliament, it will be admitted (that the programme for this year, while 'not spectacular, will, with the addition lof other things included in the official schedule, serve to keep the tide lof political interest flowing high.