WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1923, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

IMPENDING LEGISLATION

I.IIPO RTA NT AIE A SCR ES

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 13

The most important feature of Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives was the Prime Minister’s statement of the more important Government Bills to he submitted to members during the remainder of the present session. The statement was made in response to a question put to Mr Massey without notice by the Hon J. A. Ilannn, the member for Invercargill. and the Minister mildly protested against a surprise of this kind being sprung upon him at such a time and in such a fashion. He would be glad, however, to give the information as tar as ho could, though members would have to remember that the amount of business done would depend very largolv 11 poll their own disposition to work. The finance measures would have tn take precedence. There was the consolidation or the Land and Income Tax Acts, the annual Land and Income Tax Bill and the Einame Bill. These, of course, would have to go through, but there were other important measures dealing with finance which might he postponed to a more convenient session. None of the Bills it was absolutely necessary to pass during the present session need occupy a great deal of time. The purpose of them all was clear and they required no prolonged discussion. GAMING MIX. There was a Racing Bill under the heading oi ;i Gaming Bill, Mr Massey went nil to say. and this he was pledged to produce dining the present session. There i< a feeling abroad tliat the Prime Minister is not very keen on this incisure and that lie would gladly sec it consigned lo the limbo of for-

gotten things. One story in connection with its iipnearauee is that Mr L. M. lsitl, the member for Christchurch North, who with Mr George Bitty constitutes the Reform majority in party divisions, has threatened to withdraw his conditional support from the Government if Air Massey lacilitates the passage of a Bill increasing the number of totalisalor permits. Probably tlu-re is no foundation for this story, since the Bill in no way will he a party measure, hut il is known that

very strong representations are being made to the Prime Minister from liotli sides and that he would like to have himself freed lrotti the whole business. However, a promise is a promise and the Bill will he brought down in due eutirse, most likely to torm the subject of an all-night wrangle and then to he squeezed out in some fashion as were the totalisator permit proposals of iwo years ago. . LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT. Mr Massey has decided to hold over his Licensing Bill till next session, there being no chance of getting such a measure through the House before his departure lor Loudon; hilt, in discharge of another promise, lie will introduce a Legislative Amendment Bill, embodying sonic measure ot reform. This Bill, the Prime Minister informed the House on Friday, was to be discussed hy Hie Cabinet during the weekend. and there is a rumour about today that Ministers are hy no means unanimous in approval of its proposals. Mr Massey appeared to be anticipating some disagreement among the members of iiis own party on Friday nigh! when he implied that without the enthusiastic support, of the two sections of the Opposition lie would he tumble to give the country the measure o! elei ioral reform tu' de-dred. Ihe substance ol the Bill is not yet available to the public, but it is understood that o provides for proportional representation in tie- lour large city constituencies and for prcicrrntial voting in the cenutrv constituencies. This would be acceptable to I lie Liberal Party only ns a step lowaids proportional representation. and probably the Labour Parly would iusi-.l upon having the full reform af nine or not Iting at all. DAIRY PRO PI C !•: CONTROL.-* I, i- firing taken as a link- Mgniiicant that in bis main reply to Mr Henan's interrogation ih■ • Prime Minister ma.de no mention nl In- intentions in regard to the ‘'Dairy Pool. It was left lo Mr Masters to remind him nl his ones'am. "'I li d .-roes without savin;.;,” la n-pli. d to ila- inquiry ol" the member oi SI mi .ford. The Hails Produce Until n",I Bill trill he gone on with. Thin'l make any mistake about that. And members "ill have an opportunity cf going into the lobbies Pit and again-,t it.” Mr Massey's’ attitude towards this measure has been the subject of a good deal of discussion about the House and in the city. Some months ago he said the dairy I armors might have tin- Bill if they "are unanimous in wanting it. Later lie appeared to look with disapproval upon the compulsory clauses of I lie measure. Then he spoke of their exclusion from the scheme. But now In- seems to have been persuaded that they ate necessary to the salvation of the dairying industry. It has been suggested that a solution of the points In dispute would he found by referring the question of compulsion to a vote of the factory suppliers and it is not impossible that a provision to this effect will ho inserted in the BiM.