SIR JOSEPH WARD

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1929, Page 8

SIR JOSEPH WARD

CONSERVING STRENGTH. ABSENT DURING- REMAINDER OF SESSION. ' . WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. The Premier, Sir Joseph Ward lias definitely decided that lie will no; resume his Parliamentary duties thi session unless there is. a very urgen call for his personal attendance. Hi strength continues to build up slowly but the process has taken longer thai expected, and the good advice of In friends received substantial corroboration when he realised what a physical ordeal was saved by leaving the Lain' and Income Tax Act Amendment Bil to the Hon G. W. Forbes, acting leader of the party, who got the measure through committee and its thin reading on lines favoured by Sir Jo seph Ward. Jt'is no secret that the whole of tin Cabinet lias been anxious to conserve the leader’s strength, and when the session is over they hope he will take a change of air, for he has remainei in Parliament budding throughout hi convalescence and proposes to do so continuing in constant personal touci with Ministers till the session ends.

As lor the final date official opinion incline to the middle of the week, for there is a large amount of important business yet to be transacted.. The amendment of the Customs Act imposing pri'mage duty in statutory form, will be the leading feature of Tuesday’s business.. There are also several small classes of the Estimates to pass, and the Public Work Statement with its estimates will take another day. Further important business will come from select committees, as last week’s delays over the taxing Bil; held up the report on the Taupo petit'on, involving the question of stoppage of the Taupo railway. The select committee which lias been revising the Transport .Bill will have to report, and lobby opinion inclines to the belief thai the measure will either Tie substantially modified or postponed, as the time element is against securing its passage in anything approaching its original shape. The House has also to receive and discuss the report from the select committee which considered the operation of protective duties on wheat and flour,; another contentious question, and it is unlikely, after the public service agitation over the restoration of salary cuts which the Government has been compelled to refuse,.that the hnal financial measure will pass without a long debate. These items in. the remaining legislative programme mean long continuous work if the session is to be wound up in good time. Thus the programme involves a big .physical strain- which the-Prime Minister would not be justified- in facing, though his health will not give rise to anxiety if he can be spared this strain.