PARLIAMENT’S PROGRAMME

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 11

PARLIAMENT’S PROGRAMME

STILL FORMIDABLE AND CONTENTIOUS REVIEW BY ACTING PREMIER [From Our Pakluueht4RT Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 29. Parliament; faces a formidable programme before its work ends. In a survey for the ■ information of the House yesterday the Acting Prime Minister mentioned 14 Bills, some not yet introduced. Ho admitted frankly that there were controversial subjects to come, but he could not have foreseen tliat towards midnight, in connection with an apparently formal measure, the Statutes Amendment Bill, there would arisif one of the liveliest discussions of the session over the clause seeking to cope with the problem of liquor at dances. The Bill only got through committee at 1 a.m. because the Minister of Justice, Mr Mason, withdrew the eontroversial clause with! the object of submitting it to the Statutes Revision Committee, when a modification may enable the legislation on the subject to be adopted this session.

The Customs Amendment Bill, embodying resolutions for increased duties on beer, wines, spirits, tobacco, cigarettes, and cigars, passed all stages after many hours’ discussion., Curiosity; was expressed whether the Government had reached finality in its taxing programme, members particularly wishing to know when tea might.be taxed. The Minister of Finance replied that he hoped it would be a long, time before they came to tea, but if they had to get money for war purposes they, might eventually tax this commodity. The complete restriction, on the supply of petrol for private cars imposed for a short 'period following the outwar was criticised,,by several National members. This action by the Government was described as too hasty, Mr Dickie declaring that it savoured of panic and was withdrawn after a few; days. These statements _ were all incorrect. replied the Minister of Supplies, Mr Sullivan. When war broke out, ho added, nobody in this country or anywhere else could toll what was going to happen, or what would be the full list of the combatants.

Mr dull: We don’t know yet. “ That is perfectly true, ’’ agreed Me Sullivan, who found in this interjection all the more justification for the Government having a greater _ sense of •- responsibility than its critics bad shown. It would have been nothing short of madness for the Government to have acted otherwise •than it had done in respect of petrol and a number of other commodities. On the Oil Fuel Committee were representatives of the fighting services, who regarded an adequate supply of petrol as vital to ensure the security of the DominionFull information was available regarding the tankers coming to the Country, during the month, and the decision was made on complete data, of the whole position, which had long been considered by the National Security Committee. Why, he asked, should any Government make the restriction without full justification when it had to take into consideration the difficulties which would he created in the motor-industry, and for the 16,000 men employed by the motor dealers? A* soon as it became reasonably certain that the seas were to be open . to us and that the tankers were going to arrive, the restrictions were relaxed just to the point. which appeared. to be in conformity with national security.