MINISTERS TO MEET.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 7

MINISTERS TO MEET.

TO FORMULATE POLICY. CABINET CONCLAVE TO-MORROW. IMPORTANT DECISIONS PROBABLE. An Important mooting of the j Cabinet will bo held In Wellingi ton to-morrow, when It Is expect- ' ed that that ministers will reach ! Important decisions on such matters as land settlement, immigration, unemployment. The result | of the meeting is being awaited j with keen interest. (Time? Correspondent.! I WELLINGTON, Wednesday. : In the ordinary course of events ! Cabinet meetings pass almost un--1 noticed, but in view of the peculiari- ! ties of the political situation coni siderable interest is attached to the I meeting the Prime Minister and his I colleagues will hold on Thursday. Apart from the mass of detail work that has accumulated through the intervention of the holidays several important policy -questions await decision, and it is in the outcome of the Cabinet’s deliberations in this connection that chief interest centres. _ So far the decisions of the Prime Minister on questions of finance, policy and railway construction have had the lion s share of prominence, but it is gener- | ally expected now that attention will i bc“ given to the formulation of the I Government's definite policy in regard to such matters as unemployment, imi migration, land settlement and the promotion of industrial peace. The meeting on Thursday will afford an opportunity for a full and free exchange of views on the foregoing and allied subjects, in regard to some of which the ministers concerned may have their recommendations ready for presentation. As the existing restrictions on assisted migration have expired, it is a matter for the Cabinet to determine the advisability or otherwise of renewing them, and it is probable that a decision will be reached on this question on Thursday. The Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) has already publicly intimated his intention of presenting a vigorous scheme of land settlement, and although the Cabinet would deal with the broad lines of any proposals forthcoming, it will take cognisance of the result of a conference the minister is to have with the Crown Land Commissioners and members of the Land Purchase Board next week. A definite policy has not yet been laid down with respect to unemployment, but the actions of the Government since assuming office have been interpreted to mean that the principle of paying standard wages on all relief works will be the one adopted. More to the point, however, is the absorption of those out of work, and it is expected that the Minister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom), will place before the Cabinet some recommendations in that connection. Whether a second national industrial conference will be held is another question yet to be decided, but the probability is that a final decision will not be reached for so Inc weeks yet.