DATE FOR RESUMING SESSION

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 92, 12 January 1935, Page 8

DATE FOR RESUMING SESSION

Statement By Mr. Coates AGRICULTURE COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, January 11. The possibility that Parliament may resume later than February 13, the date at present indicated, was mentioned by. the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, to-night. It was hoped, he said, to reopen the session on the due date, but the preparation of important national legislation to be considered by the House might necessitate a postponement until February 20. Mr. Coates said good progress was being made in placing the national mortgage proposals into legislative form. However, there were certain difficulties in drafting, particularly in the later part of the proposed Bill, and these might possibly result in short delay. All proposals were receiving careful attention before inclusion in the projected legislation, as the matters affected were of national importance.

“The appointment of three members of the Executive Commission of Agriculture and the members of the reconstituted Dairy Board may be finalised next week,” Mr. Coates continued. “Cabinet will be meeting in Wellington early in the week, and that is one of the questions likely to receive consideration. Providing no unexpected hitch occurs, these appointments should be announced during the week.”

Mr. Coates said he was unable, as yet, to make any statement on the Budget outlook in the light of the figures for the nine months ended December 31. Ho had received the approximate figures only a few days ago, but they required further amplification before any definite pronouncement could be made. The returns of Customs revenue, he added, continued to show a rising tendency, and the outlook in this respect' was quite favourable. Income tax payments next month would probably indicate whether the anticipated surplus for the year would be realised.