Prime Minister Announces Proposed Legislation

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1949, Page 8

Prime Minister Announces Proposed Legislation

BUT NOT DATE FOR ELECTIONS ^ # WELLINGTON, September 7. TMrty-seven Rrlls- of varymg degrees oi jmportance, whieh have still to be introduced, were inchided in the general outline of the remaiuing business for tbe Partfamentaxy session given by the . Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in the House of Iiepres ent-ati v es today. He said that these measures were desirable- but Some'of them \vere not absolutely neeessary this session. - Replying to an mquiry by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, the Prime Minister said he eould not, at the moment, give the date of the General Election but would endeavour to do so as . ' soon as possible. He would also be qruite willing to discuss. with the Opposition certain amendments it was considered desirable to have made to the Electoral Regulations. ,

The list of legisiation given by Mr. Fraser was as loiiows: — Uaming Amendment Bill. Law Reform (testamentary promisesj Bill. 3Iilitarv Training Bill. N.Z. Arniy Bill. Social Berurity Amendment Bill. Medieai Praetitioners Amendment Bill. Education Reserves Bill. Patriotic and Canteen Funds Amendment Bill. \ Evideuce Amendment Bill. Kabbit Kuisauc6 Amendment Bill. A'ational Provident Pund Bill. Air Eorce Amendment Bill. Inspection of Maehinery Bill. Boilers, Lifts and Cranes Bill. Finance Bill. Education- Amendment Bill. llarbours Amendment Bill. lucensing T.rusts Bill. Counties Amendinent Bill. Radio-Active Fubstances Bill. Pollution Mitigatiou Bill. idtatutes Amendment Bill. Locul Legisiation Bill. Reserves and Otlier Lands Disposal Bill. , Maori Purposes Bill. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill. Anzac Dav Bill. fSamoa Aihendment Bill. Wool Labelling Bill. Kaval Defence Amendment Bill. Canterburv Agricultural C'oilege Amendment Bill. f'ouiicil oi! ' Lngineering Education Bill.. Electricians and Eleetrieal ("ontractors Eegistration Bill. Land and Income Tax (annual) Bill. Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill. Friendly Societies Bill. Mr. Fraser said that if the financial debate linished tomorrow night, the House would go into Committee of Supply on Friday on the lirst item in. the Lstimates. Two days a week, Tuesday and Friday, would be devoted to the Lstimates as hltherto but it might be neeessary later to devote more days a week to the Estimates. It was hoped to introduce the Gaming Amendinent

Bill and Military Training Bill next week. The N.Z. Arniy Bill was a consolidating measure but it also contain ed 'amendments and was rather a big job. The Soeial Security Amendment Bill gave legislative elfcct to Soeial Security increases announced in the Budget and contained certain health provisions. The Medical Praetitioners Amendment Bill was tlie result of a eonference between the Minister of Health and British IMedical Association. The Education Reserves Bill was not of first rate importance and couhl be postponed it neeessary. The Patriotic and Canteen Funds Amendment Bill : provided for the amalgamation of the patriotic and canteen funds of the two' wars. The Inspection of Maehinery Bill and the Boilers, Lifts and Cranes Bill divided certain powers relating to the inspection of plant and maehinery. between the Marine Department and Labour Department. The Counties Amendment Bill embodied remits from the Counties Association. Eeferring to the Pollution Mitigatiou Bill the Prime JNHnister said that many people Iiad been hopefullv awaiting leg islation dealing with tlie pollution of rivers. He understood that certain

Government Departments had been considering it but the House would havi to consider the effect of such legisla tion 011 industry.j, \ ' The Anzac Dav Bill which the Re turned Services Association had asked , for, provided that Anzac "Day sliduh. be a meiiiorial day for those who Tost their lives in the two worl'd wars and in the South African War. The Samoa Amendment Bill which had been asked' for by the Administrator, cstablislied a proper public service | in the territory. Mr. Doidge: \Yhat about the state ment' of the meniber fov Waiinariin that the Govemiuent was bringing . down an Abolition of the. Upper House Bill i Ari'. Fraser said the member for Wai marino liad not indicated that would bc done this session. "We will promisc to look at it next session," added the Prime Minister. Mr. (ioosman: Are you going to takt time olf for the election? Mr. Fraser: With tlie active eo-opera tion of members and the eo-operativc-silence of the honourable member, we will be able to finish this in good time Mr. Bowden: No Electoral Amend ment Bill ? Mr. Fraser: No. I th-ink I would like to introduce a Bill to restore th& country quota. Mr. Ilolland: Give us the chance then. !Mr. Fraser said there woulcl be. ample time for the election campaign as well as for passing the legisiation he had indicated. "Judging- by thc last 14 years, an election is onty an aicident in the life of this Govern ineiit, ' ' he added. Mr. Ilolland said it was very helpfu! to have a list of the legisiation so thai the House eould plan its work. It would also be helpful to have the clate of the General Election. He suggested that a sniall inter-Party committee miglit be set up to consider outstancting electoral matters such as regulations under the Electoral Act. If members lcnew all the arrangoments thev eould adjust themselves according1 V. "

AIv. Fraser said he eould not ,at the moment give the date of tlie General Election, but he would endeavour to d'e so as soon as possible. There should be adequate time for candidates to go around the electorates partieularly those in country districts, and conduct their campaigns. Fo far as certain amendcments to the Electoral Regula tions were concerned,-he would be very glad to consult the Opposition on that matter. There was the question oi postal voting and of sick voters in hospital. They were matters he was qxiite willing to discuss with representatives of the Opposition. Mr. Holland: We are ready when you are ready.