THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21419, 11 March 1935, Page 10

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Programme Interrupted LONG HOURS IN NEXT FORTNIGHT [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 9. The Parliamentary machine is temporarily out of gear, the Government's legislative programme has been interrupted, and members of the House of Representatives havenothing to talk about. The Rural Mortgagors and Tenants Final Adjustment Bill is not quite ready for introduction. The Mortgage Corporation Bill, although through committee, is not to go to a third reading until the Adjustment Bill has been considered, and the committee stage of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill has been postponed until interested persons have had time to meet the Minister. Thus on Thursday night the Government found itself faced with the necessity of adjourning the House until Tuesday. By that time the Mortgagors Adjustment Bill should be ready for presentation. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) was quite confident when interviewed to-day that the bill would be brought down on Tuesday, and that the remainder of the special session's work could be completed within a fortnight. The Government intended to work long hours., and to arrange for Monday sittings—the experience of the last few weeks on the Mortgage Bill make:; it obvious that very long hours will be needed if the programme is to be completed so soon. The Mortgage Corporation Bill occupied many long sittings, particularly when in committee, and it is considered likely that the new measure will excite even more discussion in the House. On the other hand, some think it possible that members have exhausted a great deal of what there is to say on the subject of farmers' finance, and that the adjustment bill might slip through fairly easily. The growing desire of members to return to their homes as the session draws to a close is another factor to be considered. The length of the committee discussion of the Mortgage Bill can fairly be attributed to the persistency of about 12 members I who, between them, spoke as much or more than the rest of the House put together. The Bill's Critics The president of the Farmers' Union (Mr W. J. Poison) challenged the Government on many clauses in the bill, and fought hard to secure i endments. Mr W. A. Veitch (Ind., Wanganui) was perhaps the most untiring critic. Messrs R. A. Wright (Ind., Wellington Suburbs) and A. M. Samuel (Ind., Thames) upheld the independent members' reputation for loquacity, and the "financial experts" of the Labour party, Messrs W. Nash (Hutt) and F. Langstone (Waimarino) allowed hardly a clause to go without rising to speak several times. The patience of the Minister for Finance (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) was sorely tried at limes. Once he applied the closure, and on another occasion he threatened to move for it. In the circumstances, it is likely that the next bill will keep the House busy for at least a fortnight.

Then there is other work to do. The Mortgage Bill has to be recommitted for amendments, and the third reading has to be taken. The Broadcasting Bill has to be put through, the Native Land Bill has yet to make its appearance, and a local legislation bill has to be passed. Parliament will have to work very hard to finish the Government's programme before the end of the month.

The debate on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was disappointing to the Government as well as to the country. When the bill was introduced a fortnight ago members jumped to their feet one after an-' other with eager criticism of features of the Government's policy. They gave every promise of being able to offer a series of reasoned and constructive speeches when the bill was in its second reading. This second reading debate was taken on "hursday to fill in a gap in the mortgage finance business, and the Government was hoping it would be good for at least a day and a half's debate. Broadcasting Policy On Wednesday night the Minister in charge of the bill, the PostmasterGeneral (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) outlined the Government's broadcasting ideas, and explained his bill to the House, and Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South), who is recognised 'as something of an authority on the technical side of the subject, replied for the Opposition. But most of the speeches which followed were not very enlightening or constructive. Although members had been able to speak at length, and many times, on the practical subject of farmers' mortgages, tht great majority were disinclined to speak their half-hour in Thursday's debate. It became obvious in the evening that the whips were having difficulty in persuading members to participate, and most of those who did speak did so for a very few minutes.

Interest in the debate was slight, ancl it is fairly certain that had the Government's lately-conceived plan for a four days' adjournment been known before the north train and the steamer express had left the Whips would have found it difficult to secure a quorum. As it was many members were left stranded in Wellington on Friday. It was thought at one time during the week that the Government would allow the House on Friday to discuss the meat export situation in the shape of the British Government's White Paper and the New Zealand Government's reply, but the leading Ministers came to the conclusion that any publication given to such a discussion might embarrass the Dominion's delegates to London and hamper preliminary negotiations. Although the Prime Minister assured Mr Poison in the House last week that members would be given an opportunity for the meat discussion, the publication of the White Paper and the reply have changed the situation somewhat.