PARLIAMENT BEGINS TASK

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20841, 27 June 1939, Page 6

PARLIAMENT BEGINS TASK

Though no legislation of outstanding importance is expected to come before the session of Parliament opened today, it is still likely to be one of the most interesting of sessions, for several reasons. In each session since it came to the Treasury benches the present Government has taken the initiative with an imposing list of legislation which it lias been able to place on the Statute Book with a wide majority vote. Now the legislation is almost all in operation, and from experience of the new laws Parliament will be able to discuss the new order from both sides. It is notable that members of Parliament who were elected last October —eight months ago —have not until today had any voice in the government of the. country because they have never been called together. But the Cabinet did not need them to sustain the steady flow of Orders-in-Council with which earlier legislation has been implemented. Nevertheless it is desirable for the preservation of the principle of democracy that the elected representatives of the people should be assembled and at least sworn in earlier than eight months after the election. If the oath means anything it should be taken within reasonable time after an election. Although the Government party still has a wide majority in the House of Representatives, the introduction of fresh blood as a result of the election will lend added interest to the debates, if not to the voting. It is inevitable that a Government which has instituted such sweeping policy changes over the past three years should reveal many new talking points of which the Opposition is certain to take advantage. Were it not for the fact that the Government has such a wide majority in Parliament there would be little chance of the realisation of Mr Savage’s prophesy that the session would be comparatively brief. No doubt the earlier part of the session will be devoted to the clearing away of routine matters in preparation for the serious business of the year that is expected to follow the return of the Minister of Finance from his momentous visit to London.