OPENING AT OTTAWA

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 8

OPENING AT OTTAWA

CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

PUBLIC (BUILDING PLANS

(Received January, 26, 2.30 p.m.) ' OTTAWA, January 25. The Speech from the Throne,at th« opening of Parliament announces the creation of a fund, generally set at 50,000,000 dollars,, for a public building programme to check unemployment. There are many important 'items i« the programme of the Canadian' Parliament for the session which hag just opened, including the decennial revision of the Bank Act; and establishment of a central bank, Ihe latter in accordance with recommendations of the Boyal Commission made recently; It may or may not be the final session of Parliament before .dissolutioaand a General Election. ' The. presentBlouse was elected in 1930, and th» Prime Minister, the Kt. :Hon. B. B. Bennett, may decide to defer the election until the early part of 1935. Thp Liberal Opposition, however,- will ■procoed on the assumption that an election in 1934 is probable, and the session is certain to be marked by some sharp fighting and much striving for political advantage. -". There will be much argument over the banking measures, and although the Liberal Party is committed to the principle of a central bank, room for difference of opinion will exist as to its constitution and details The Government's trade and tariff policies," arid its management of the unemployment relief situation, will come in for much discussion. The Liberals will precipitate, another, debate on the question of a reciprocity pact with the United States. \ ■.'■■■. •■ ■■ ' ''■■,;,

Government revenues .in recent months havo shown an improvement which reflects the better business tone, but the Minister of Finance will have to report another deficit—largely .brought about by loss in operation of the. Canadian National Eailways and by relief expenditures. Canadians have not much hope that taxes will b» | brought down in the coming year, but 1 they have, some reason to expect that i there will' be no further increases.