COMING SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1924, Page 4

COMING SESSION.

NON-PARTY LEGISLATION

THK DISSOI.FTIDN TIiPF.AT. (Lyttelton Time- Correspondent). AA KI.I.IXCTOX. dune H'. An unusual atm tint of v hat mat be called non-pariy logi-lation i- likely to ionic before Parliament during it- i outing .-c--ion. the working -‘--ion of the llon-c. Such a programme is quite a happy arrangement for the Prime Alin-i-ter. who depends on -o preeariou- a. majority, but it has also some ha/ardoti- feature- which will lie described in due course. It i- alway- expected tlmt during the middle se--ion Parliament gi t- through tic Mili-iantiul j>:iit of i lie programme which electors anticipate when the parties laced them on the hu-tings. There appear- to lie nothin;' outstanding in the way of proposed Mill- from the Government which will raise party i-ities -irongly. but. on the other hand, the programme of Hills which raise lines of difference altogether dilfcrent from those of party i- a lengthy one. First i- the Kleetoral Pill, which wa-

emulated to 11 ifinIif-rv last session, ;>n(l - created i|iiitf a ~t :>rm of protest. n*it <-r>iifiin ■<l t.i the <i|>|- isition groups. It to secure !’nr ill-. 1 city seats n system uf groupings, .-mil the operainii ui' tin 1 proportional voting system, but fur till' cnimt ry s'lits, \\ lie re :i fpwta pi vos tlio electors a substantial advantage in representation, the GovonniH'iit's idea is to keep the constil-ttiMK-ies ;i s they tire, lmt to institute the preferential voting system, under which the diliieitities due to tin i'>;ns< ot candidates and coirscipient \oto-split-tine are snp;.n-cd to he eliinintited. 1 understand that the Government litis made no changes in tile measure of hist .session, and that it will again introduce it v. ith tile object of testing tho feeling of the Home. It is wellknown that the Hill as it stands dots not command tho whole-hearted support of (.'overnment members. Tilt Prime Minister will make it a nonparty matter, though it is possible that the Opposition will raise the issue in -tteh a. way as to force a party test. Will the Prime Minister carry out his threat to dissolve Parliament, if defeated!' Legislators have heard this threat for several sessions, and do not take it tjuite seriously. If the Government accepted a r.a-eontidenee test on an electoral issue, and it went against

them, there might ho a fire mafic regrouping of personnel which would enable some Government—not exactly the existing combination—to carry on till tbo time of the ordinary appeal to constituencies at the end of l!)2o. This is on the assumption, for which there is a good constitutional authority, that a defeated Prime Minister cannot secure forhv.ith a dissolution, but that the duty of the Governor-General is to exhaust the possibilities of the House before authorising such a course. Last session's Gaining Bill had a stormy and unsuccessful run, which necessitates another experiment this session. because the Minister of Internal Alfairs is of opinion that widened powers must Ire given to the. Government to deal with lapsed iurniits. in cases where racing clubs have fa-ed to bold meetings. 'I here were .several clauses in the old Bill unite acceptable to thos" who opposed any extension oi permits, but these .supporters of the Ibll would make no compromise arrangement nu the last occasion, therefore the witole measure was dropped. Another

tempt will no doubt bo made by supporters of racing, especially for the benefit of country clubs, but nothing lias happened since last session to gin promise of any bettor retention fm their proposals. Another non-party measure is t.a Motor Ilegistrntioii Bill. It has beer completed, and is being circulate-' among Ministers at the present moment. Cabinet has not yet decide, whether the Bill will be circulated to motor associations and local basic.' before the session or after its introduction. but in any case the Miui-te. <■ Internal Affairs a-ures in- that thus" interested will have ample time to make repre-dilation-, before the T.lll c finally dealt with by the House. Ihe I’riiDo Minister has aimed'.- aiinouiu 00. that*" the petrol tax Inis been uoanikui-,-d. Probably increased registration tees will b" suh-t it r.ted, and in thi- 1 conr.eclion a complication has arisen if ■Wellington, wln-re the motorists I the (.j tv and surrounding '"roughs and ecunlies have been taxed to the extent of IN' per cer. under the |> e.vers of the 11 lit t Bead Act. They will make a strong effort to have this local tax merged ill the general impost. Ihe i|tie-tion of the ."Hooting authority for the national tax lies not yet boon settled. as a good deal on .whether the Government or local bodies "ill have the handling <>f the receipts.

The most important Government Bill of the ordinary type will be a consolidation of the Land Ml. Thi- is nut likclv to contain any important departures of policy, ho' " gives complete scope far raising every idia-o of our land legislation. TUB LANDS MlMSiK.li. It is sugge.-tod that when the Plinu* Minister is ahi - to moot all the members of his party alter the opening of Parliament, he will announce the resignation of the Hon I). H. Guthrie from the position of .Mini-tor of Lands. Mr Guthrie's health, though improving, i-

lar from satisfactory, and . intiouco (diicial responsibility i- likclv m incvenl an < ccly re. overv. The name

most pro.aiineiil w hen a sue. essor is discussed is that of Mr A. B. M’l.eod. member for Wairarapa. Mr M’l.eod's I|lialilicatiun is that of a practical former, and al- > the iact fiiat the selecti»n of a Wairarapa member would mil cause any di-organisatinii of the geographical balaiae which i< more or less coii.siderc ! in making u]> a Ce.bi--11 v t. A l.iccm-iug Bill i- expected. but the probability is ih.it the mo-t. substantial work on this .-object lias yet tn he

done by a Parliamentary committee w I lie 1 1 will make ret oniliienda! ions after hearing the views ul various interests keenly concerned in the matter. 'I his is another of the mill-party ionics for file coining session, and. taken with the others .‘numerated, is enough lor a fairly good production of statutes. Taxation will loom larger than luo-t Bills, for the Prime .Minister has d'S- . liisiml a Mih'-taut ial surplus, and the flemii.i.l for .1 i ediioliroi of tayatooi iMr, ,ug. d lie re, eoniro lonlt ion- <0 the Taxation Couiinb.-iun. which have not been completed, will term an important con lribn t ion lo thi-, lug rniitro-ver-y. and it require' no gilt ol prophecy to state that the Government will find sionc way of overcoming Hi" anomaly lind'T which holders of the leasehold can c. cape eii her land or ini.iiui' tax. although tlieir receipts: may lie ipiitc substantial. The Dominion 1,'.0ar,1 vet up to revalue soldier-' lands will at -nine stage of lb" session, be able to report on the results. It was expected when the Act was passed that at least three million- -terling would have lo be wiitteii olf the-v settlements, but mi hint a.s to the extent of the w l iting--dow n lias yet escaped from this board, which was given statutory powers in ibis

respect, superior to Government con trol.

I’ar'iameiit is hardly likely to escape the aftermath of the railway strike, in width ail the political panic- iigure.l. This ijtiestinn i- I; mud no with the general demand of public servantfor im-rea-ed wages, and will be sure

to cati-e a. dicisiou on a motion that in view of the improvement in the revenue. and the fact that prici s of commodities have not fallen to die extent expected u hen the two reductions were imposed, these ‘Vitl-." .should lie rein--laied. The previous liuii-e was narlov.ly divided on the i|iiestir.n of reducing the salarie- of public servants getting £c;il) per annum and under, and tic coining sc ion’s developments are likely to he eijually iulere-tittg on till- tojiie. Summing up the prospects, it appears that ill" -••--ion will he notable principally for events which are net.- on the Covernment's official programme.