PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 230, 27 September 1940, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

MEETS ON TUESDAY. ANOTHER SECRET SESSION?! WELLINGTON, this day. Following an adjournment of one month, Parliament will resume the present session next Tuesday. The legislative programme is meagre, and it. is not anticipated that the business will occupy more than a week, or at the most two. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, is determined that the House will be in continuous session for the duration of the war, and his plan is for frequent adjournments, thus enabling members to be speedily called together in the event of emergency. This can be done without the elaborate formalities necessary after a prorogation. In the lobbies, however, there is divided opinion as to this course, and in some quarters it is held that Parliament should be adjourned until the ordinary meeting tjme next year, towards the end of June. They hold the view that business is always disturbed with a session in progress owing to the possibility of new taxation measures and other legislation affecting the commercial world being introduced. It is possible, however, owing to the approaching Christmas season, that when Parliament rises . it will be called together only once again this year, possibly in November, and that an- adjournment will then be taken until February. After formal business is transacted on

Tuesday it is likely that the opportunity will be taken to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. A. E. Jull, who repre-j sented Waipawa in the present Parliament, and to the memory of Mr. John Anstey, a former member of both House* of the Legislature. These will be followed by the usual short adjournment. Our War Effort. If members express a wish for the holding of another secret session this will be arranged when an opportunity will be afforded for a full and free discussion on the Dominion's war effort.

The Prime Minister will no doubt give a brief review of\ confidential information received from the British Government, in relation to the course of activities on all fronts.

Included in the list of measures for this portion of the session is an Excess Profits Tax Bill; a Native Purposes Bill; Small Farms Amendment Bill; dealing with the settlement of discharged soldiers on the land; an Orchard and Garden Diseases Amendment Bill; and a Termites Bill, which will contain provisions for controlling the white ant pest.

Although a promise was made when the House eat last that a bill would he | brought down authorising the Court of Arbitration to fix the opening and closing hours of shops, there is doubt whether this will make Its appearance. A clause bringing about this change was included in the Statutes Amendment Bill last August, but there was strong criticism of the clause and the Government withdrew it, the statement being made at the time that it would come* up in a Shops and Offices Amendment Bill later in the session.

Mercantile Marine. There is a likelihood of legislation being introduced providing pensions for members of the mercantile marine and their dependents suffering war disability. This may foe on similar lines to the statute dealing with members of the armed forces and their dependents. An Agricultural Emergency Regulations Conformation Bill may also be introduced, while the Insurance Companies Bill now before the Statutes Revision Committee, may be reported back and proceeded with.

A caucus of Government members has been called for to-morrow. —(Parliamentary Reporter.)