SESSION ENDS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22509, 17 September 1938, Page 25

SESSION ENDS

REVIEW OF WORK

FORTY-ONE PUBLIC BILLS FOR ROYAL ASSENT

From Our Parliamentary Reporter.l

WELLINGTON, September 16

The final session of New Zealand's twenty-fifth Parliament has now come to a close, and with it, to all intents and purposes, the first term of the Dominion's first Labour Government. Like most pre-election sessions, it has been notable for a flood of talk, much of it frankly anticipating the electioneering speeches of the next few weeks, but with one notable exception. The laws placed o i the Statute Book have possessed no great significance. Parliament has sat for 12 weeks, and during that time there have been 49 days of meeting, the greater part of this time was occupied with the formal debate on the Address-in-Reply motion and on the Budget, and although some time was spent on the passing of the Social Security Bill and on the approval of the estimates of departmental expenditure, it was not until the last fortnight that a determined attack was made on the legislative programme. The Social Security Sill, of course, i overshadowed everything else, but. so much had been heard of its provisions in advance that even the appearance of the proposals in legislative form was something in the nature of an anti-climax. However, the bill takes its place with measure like the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Act and the Primary Products Marketing Act as one of the most important and far-reaching measures introduced by Labour. ' Little Heated Argument In general it has been a good-tem-pered session, particularly when it is remembered that all along an election has been in the offing. In spite of its lack of numbers the Opposition has performed its critical functions with ability, and there have been very few occasions on which political argument has become heated or acrimonious. Questions of privilege arose once or twice, but they were concerned largely with attacks made by members on persons outside the . House—attacks which have assumed a new significance since the installation of broadcasting microphones in the chambers. For an election session there have been very few late sittings and comparatively few divisions. A vote of the whole House was taken on a division on only four occasions. There were 17 divisions in. Committee, practically all of them on closure motions and Opposition amendments. With its commanding majority the Government survived all divisions with the greatest of ease. . Public bills which received the Royal Assent during the session totalled 41, and eight measures lapsed or were disposed of otherwise. Only two private bills were passed. List of legislation The full list of legislation for the session is as follows: Public bills:— .< Agricultural Emergency Regulations Confirmation.

Appropriation. Arbitration Amendment. Carter Observatory. Dairy Industry Amendment Education Amendment. Finance.

Imprest Supply. ..Imprest;Supply (No. 2). : ging *4jsr&'~Vae Fifth Memorial Fund. ,: A', Land arid Income Tax (Annual). Local Legislation. Municipal Corporations Amendment, Native Housjng Amendment.

Native Purposes. . New Zealand Centennial. New Zealand Council of La,w ReP Reserves and Other Lands Disposal. Samoa Amendment. Social Security. Stallions. Statutes Amendment. Stock Amendment. Surveyors. Local bills:— Auckland Electric Power Board Drainage and Sewerage B SSUffiPeES&. River District Amendment. _ , _ Greymouth Harbour Board Loan. Lower Clutha River Improvement. Napier Airport Amendment. Nelson City Empowering, Ohßi Railway Board Amendment. Opunake Harbour. _ . _ O&go Harbour Board Empowering. Palmerston North City Council EmParitutu Centennial Park. Southland Land Drainage AmendmTairanga Borough Council Empower* ing. Timaru 'RorouPh Empowering. Wellington City Empowering and Amendment. . • Wellington City Housing.

Private bills:— Cornwall Park Trustees Rating Ex* 6 jSinfcouncil of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society Incorporation. Public bills (lapsed):— cSwaU%*k Rating Exemption. ExoirinH Laws Continuance. - . New Zealand Federation of Funeral P Licensing Committee Slaughter of Stock and Inspection of (Meat.

Local bills (lapsed):— Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Coromandel County Reclamation and Empower in g.