THE COMING SESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1924, Page 4

THE COMING SESSION.

PROPOSKD MEASURES.

ELECTORAL BILL.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND REFERENTIAL VOTING.

The nearest approach Id Rlicit it measure will probably he the Electoral Bill, introduced Mid circulated to members Vast session, which proposes to apply tho principle of proportional representation to the urban electorates, several of which in each area will he grouped together lor this purpose, and the principle of preferential voting to the country electorates. Last session the bill roused no little interest in tile House, and a. number of . its critics hailed from the Reform side of the Chamber. It .if. understood that tho Goverl'iiiient will re-introduce this measure unaltered, with a view to testing tho feeling of the House. Air Afnssov will treat it as a non-party hill; but the Opposition parties, which contend that it gives the Reform Party tho benefit of proportional representation in tho cities, where it i.s weak, hut does not extend a similar advantage to tho other parties in tho country districts, where they are, or claim to ho. now, under-represented, will no doubt endeavour to force a party vote on the measure. Should they succeed in doing this, and .should a defeat of the Government ensue, which some Oppositionists contend is not only possible, hut prolrthle, the question is, would the Prime .Minister carry out bis threat and dissolve Parliament? Some members maintain that ho would Others, who lay claim to no little knowledge of human nature, contend that there are -lf>o golden rea soils multiplied hy almost eighty why a dissolution is not likely to take placo until the end of next year, when this Parliament expires by effluxion of time; and that they point out that no New Zealand Parliament has come to an untimely end since payment of members camo into forte. There is also the consideration, which rests on sound constitutional grounds that a. defeated Prime Minister is not necessarily entitled to an immediate dissolution, hut that it is the duty of If is Excellency the Gov-ernor-General to exhaust Cabinet-mak-ing possibilities of the House before granting a dissolution. THE GAMING BILL. ANOTHER EFFORT-. The Minister for Internal Affairs, it is anticipated, will introduce another Gaming Bill in place of the one that met with such a hot reception and such a sorry late last session. The .Minister holds that it is very necessary that widened powers should he given to the Government to deal with lapsed permits in eases where racing clubs have ceased to hold mootings. There are also a number of clauses in last session’s bill which are quite acceptable to tlie members who determinedly opposed any extension of permits; but. owing tu the nn-compromi.se attitude of those in favour of the bill, the whole had to he dropped. It is believed that though they received scant encouragement last session, the supporters of racing will make another attempt to increase the number of permits, particularly in flic caso of country clubs.

MAW HIGHWAYS,

E A ELY LK( 11SRATIO X XEC ESS AIIV

Although a list of the main highways was gazetted it is evident from statements recently made by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works that much remains to be done in the way of fresh legislation before the actual work under the principal Act can he begun. Legislation will be required before local bodies can raise funds, upen which the Government eontrihut ions will he linked. It lias been Pointed out by local body represeniative.x that unless the requisite authority is given early in the coming .session it. will nof he possible for county councils to make their financial arrangements in time to commence work next siini-

mor. ‘T am not going to commit myself or the Government,” said Mr Massey. v.hen a reporter mentioned to hint tlie apprehension of local bodies throughout the country as to their nihlity to secure loans to carry out their half-share of work on the main roads under the Ilighwn ys Act. The .Motor Vehicles Bill was being sent out to members •for their consideration, and the "hole position would ho thrashed out when the hill came before Parliament next session.

MOTOR REGISTRATION - . CONSTLTTNG THE AUTHORITIES. Tile Afoitir Registration Bill, also mm-vnrty. has born completed, and is now being considered by Ministers. But it. lias not yet been decided by Cabinet whether the hill is to be circulated to automobile clubs and local bodies before Iho session, rjr after the introduction of the measure. The Minister for Internal Affairs gives the assurance. however, that-, in any ease, those interested will have plenty of time in which to make their representations before the hill is finally dealt with by the House. As the Prime .Minister has already stated the petrol tax has been dropped, and increased registration foes may he substituted. In that event, the motorists in Wellington and district "ill no doubt, make a big fight to get the local impost of 30 s per ear, levied under the Unit Road Act, merged in the Kt.atn levy. It lias not yet been decided whether the State or the local bodies are to collect- the national tax on motorears. or whether the Government or the local bodies "ill have the handling of the revenue. The one matter hinges nu the other. LAND LEGISLATION. A CONSOLIDATING MEASURE.

The Lands Acts Consolidation Bill, a measuie containing some hundreds of clauses hut little nr nothing in the way of contentious matter or departures from already accepted policy, will he the biggest Government Bill this session. NEW LANDS MINISTER. It has hoen suggested, that, at the usual sessional caucus of his party, the Prime Minister will announce the resignation. for health reasons, of the Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister for Lands), as the lion, gentleman’s health, though improving, is by no means fully restored, and it- is considered that the cares of office may tend to retard recovery. Air A. D. McLeod. ALP., for AVairarapa. and a practical farmer, lias been mentioned as likely to be the new Minister for Rands if Air Guthrie retires.

A LICENSING BILL. MEMBERS TO HAVE FREE HAND. Those who profess to he in the-know export that n Licensing Bill "ill Ire inroduced ; but it is probable Hint much spade-work remains to bo done by a Parliamentary committee in bearing the evidence of the various interests concerned and framing recommendations thereon before the bill can bo pen. in formal shape before Hie House. Such a measure the Prime Minister

would doubtless, according to bis usual custom, treat ns non-party. REDUCTION OF TAXATION. PRIME .MINISTER’S PROMISE. Very keen interest irt evim'otl with regard to .tile question ils to Vviiltf reductions bf taxation the Prime Afiiiister, as Finance Minister, proposes to make in view of the big surplus that lie hud already announced. The report of the Taxation Commission, it is understood, is now in his hands, and its recommendations will, it is expected, constitute the battleground of many a debate in the representative chamber, and possibly also in the Legislative Council. Parliamentarians are already speculating as to the method that tlie Government will suggest for remedying the anomaly which allows leaseholders, even though in receipt of big incomes, to escape l>oth land and income tax. SOLDIERS’ LANDS. QUESTION OF REVALUATION. Another matter for discussion will he the operations of the Dominion Board appointed to revalue returned soldiers’ lands. Tlie report of the hoard is awaited with considerable interest, as, when tlie Art was passed, it was held that at least three millions sterling would have to lie writtOii off ihe valuations, but to F.Vi- nothing lias transpired in regal'd to what the board has done m this direction. THE RAILWAY STRIKE. AND THE SALARY “CUTS.” Considerable discussion i.s expected on the issues raised hy the abortive strike oil the part of the members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. In view of tlie substantial surplus disclosed hy Air Massey, it is held to lie. probable that the question of reinstating tlie two snlarv “cuts suffered liv the raihvaymen and by tho Public Service generally will he strongly pressed, and a close division on the issue is predicted. It i.s recalled that when tho “cuts” were imposed by the last Parliament, the House was very narrowly divided oil the question of applying the “cut” to salaries under BIJOU a year. LOCAL BODY RILLS. R EMOYIN (i A NOArA LIES. A good deal of local body legislation will probably lie brought down this session, mainly on the lines of amending and redressing anomalies in existing measures. Amongst other matters, the Wellington City Council, it is understood. is likely to seek for an ame.ldmrnt of the Alilk Supply Act. to give it greater powers for dealing with the problem of the nearby suppliers. OTHER. MEASURES. AI AT KR.XITY .MORTALITY. It is anticipated that certain legislation may he proposed with a view to enabling the Health Department to deal more effectively with the question of nmterntiy mortality, together with measures to endow the Health Department and the Prisons Department with more ample powers with regard to the troaient. training, and segregation of mental defectives and sexual perverts.

AN EDUCATION BILL. The Minister for Education (the Hon ('. J. Parr) has stated that there is to he mi Education Bill for the removal of eerta.fn anomalies in regard to tlie grading system, etc. WORKERS’ (() AI! ’ ENS ATJ ON. 'Hi!' Minister for Labour (the lion G. Anderson) has practically announced his intention to bring down a Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill. FRUIT AND HONEY EXPORT BILL. The Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Noswnrthy) lias promised a Fruit Export Control Bill; and it is possible that Honey Export Control and Poultry Export Control Bills will he introduced; also a measure for the hotter control of pests and diseases of various kinds.