FROM THE GALLERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18804, 28 November 1932, Page 8

FROM THE GALLERY.

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

NINE WEEKS OF SESSION GONE. SEVERAL MORE BILLS TO PASS. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. After nine weeks’ of steady plodding along the legislative highway the Order Paper of the House of Representatives is gradually becoming smaller, although much still awaits the consideration of Parliament if the present session is to be brought to a close by Christmas. A week or so ago tiie Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, had hopes of finishing by December 7, but business yet to deal with makes this quite impossible and present indications are that members will be sitting to within a few days of Christmas Day. An emergency session early in the New Y'ear is not by any means remote, and Mr Forbes has already hinted that unless there is a radical improvement in the economic outlook this will he almost inevitable. On the other hand, should the plight of the primary producers be eased by way of a bounty or some other form of assistance the need for a special session may not be so great. Tiie need for tackling the question of interest, however, has been mentioned toy Mr Forbes on two or three occasions of late, and ar.yi adjustments in this connection no doubt require legislation. The Exchange Issue. Throughout the past week the exchange issue lias provided greater interest than the actual doings of members inside the House. Tiie Bank of New Zealand has declared itself against the raising of the exchange rate, and although it is difficult to estimate tiie possible political consequences of {he hank’s decision, it i 9 not disguised in The lobbies that difficulties have arisen, for there are two distinct schools of thought within the ranks of the Government. No doubt, with the object of bringing the matter on to the floor of the House the Leader of the Opposition moved during the week to set up a special committee representative of all parties to consider the best means of dealing with pressing economic problems, including that of exchange. Mr Forbes replied, however, that tha Government was not impressed with, the.proposal and that no good purpose would be served by opening up tha discussion. Three Additional Bills. Three more bins were added during the week to the Government list awaiting consideration, bringing the total up to eleven which the Prima Minister intends to put Uirough before the end of the session. There are 393 clauses in the Municipal Corporations Bill, one of the measures introduced, and it is among the bulkiest to appear for very many years. It is mainly a consolidating measure, but it also amends local body law In several important respects, providing notably for triennial municipal elections after 1933. A second but much shorter measure Is the Municipal Association Bill, which provides for the constitution of this organisation as a corporate, body. Additional substantial relief is' provided under the Mortgagors and Tenants’ Further Relief Bill, which removes certain anomalies found to exist in the emergency legislation already passed and gives further 'protection to those who arc finding it difficult to meet their obligations during the present difficult period. Central Reserve Bank. An important bill is that designed to establish a central reserve bank. As a result of the 'Cabinet’s deliberations yesterday, it is understood that this much-delayed measure is almost ready for presentation. The Minister of Finance, Iho Hon. \V. Downie Stewart, and Air A. D. Park, Secretary of the Treasury, who made special inquiries into the subject while in London, were present at yesterday’s meeting. Two points had been reserved for 'their consideration, and it is believed the Cabinet has almost reached the stage of approving the draft. It Is probable, however, that the bill will first be submitted to a caucus of the Coalition Party, probably on Thursday, so it is possible the measure will not see light for a few days yet.