HOUSE ADJOURNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20063, 9 October 1939, Page 11

HOUSE ADJOURNS

RESUMES IN FEBRUARY

EARLIER IF -NECESSARY | IMPORTANT BILLS PASSED DRASTIC WAR MEASURES (l’arliiinu'iilary Jlcpi)rti*r.) WELLINGTON, this day. The first session of New Zealand’s ■ twenty-sixth Parliament was ad- | journed at 12.8 p.m. to-day until 2.30 p.m. on February 8, 1940. In the i meantime, Mr. Speaker carries a I commission to call members to- ! gethcr before that date if any emerg- ! ency arises to warrant that course i being taken. Overshadowing the work of the ! House and completely changing the i course of the administration was the ! declaration of war on September 3. Up till that time the programme coni templated by the Government did not contain many measures involving the enforcement of major policy points, but with the country thrown into the conflict with (Germany it became necessary to take a series of steps of a drastic and far-rcaehing character, and the work in the session’s closing i weeks placed a heavy strain on both j members of 'the Government and the ! Opposition. The brunt of the responsibility fell | upon the Hon. P. Fraser, who had taken over the duties of acting-Prime Minister after the Kt. lion. M. .J. Savage wag compelled to enter hospital for an operation early in August. Mr. Savage’s reappearance in the House last night was the first indication since then that he may bo able to make an early return to his duty. I The legisl alive achievements of the session prior to the short adjournment following the outbreak of the war were slender, all the important features having been passed since the middle of September. The War Expenses Act, which created financial machinery for conducting New Zealand’s share in the great effort, was accompanied by war taxation proposals involving additional income tax of 15 per cent, postal surcharges and increases on beer, wines, tobacco and cigarette duties. Reserve Bank Control The Emergency Regulations Act widened the already extensive powers under existing .legislation covering the steps to be taken in a state of emergency and gave further legislaI tive reinforcement to the large volume of regulations now operating smoothly. The Amendment of the Land and Income Tax Act tightened up loopholes lor evasion of taxation, one feature being the aggregation of incomes of husband and wife for 1 assessment purposes. Ti-ie Marketing Amendment Act em- | powers the Government to purchase i New Zealand’s primary products and any other goods for sale to Britain or consumption in New Zealand. Easily the most far-reaching of the financial measures was the Reserve Bank Amendment Bill, which was passed at 8 o’clock this morning, and gives the Government complete' control of the policy of the central bank and removes the statutory limit below which the bank’s reserve against its liabilities may not be reduced. Session Lasts 15 Weeks The Fair Rents Amendment Act is !an expansion of the legislation to protect tenants, this measure being particularly designed to cover fiats and apartment houses. An original provision included shops, but this was found tto be impracticable, though the Government gave an assurance that -the exploitation of shopkeeper tenants can be prevented under the anti-profiteering regulations. The House also approved a substantial group of legal measures which were brought down by the Attorney-General, the most important principle involved being the avoidance of imprisonment for failure to pay fines. In adopting the Statutes Amendment Bill, Parliament placed a complete ban on the introduction of liquor at public dances, giving the police sufficient power adequately to enforce this law. The House at first was reluctant to adopt this drastic reform, but after referring the clause to a Select'Committce for evidence, it became unanimous in approving it I without modification. • I The session also saw the realisa- ; tion of the Government’s promise to ! rectify anomalies in the social sccur- ! ity legislation and opportunity was 5 taken for placing in Statute form the Government’s agreement with the doc--1 tors to carry out maternity service contracts. In all, 55 Government (measures j were passed, 12 local bills, and one ! private measure. | Opening on June 27, the session extended over 15 weeks and during that time there were 58 sitting days occupying 384 hours.