ALL PARTY COMMITTEE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1931, Page 2

ALL PARTY COMMITTEE

- THE FIRST MEETING. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 24. The Parliamentary Committee, consisting of the representatives of all Paries in the House of Representatives met this afternoon at 2.30 tor a preliminary discussion. As a result of the deliberations, it was decided that the Committee should take evidence from Departmental officers on Tuesday and Wednesday, and later, from such other sources as might he determined upon by the Committee. The Committee will sit daily from II a.m. till 2 p.m.. and from 2.30 p.m. till sp.m.

A proposal will lie submitted to Parliament that on Tuesday, Wednesday anti Thursday of this week, the House should sit in the evenings only.

ADVICE OF EXPERTS. PREMIER’S STATEMENT. WELLINGTON, August 24. The deliberations on the part of the Inter-Party Conference, agreed upon on Friday in the House, commenced this afternoon. There is no indication as to how long the discussions will con tinue. The Independent Members met tills morning for the purpose of selecting their representative ufi the Committee and the Member for Egniont, Mr C. A. Wilkinson, was chosen as the Independent delegate, after a ballot had been taken.

When questioned regarding the agenda for the sittings of the Committee, the Prime Minister stated that one of the first things to be decided was bow far the Committee should act itself and to what extent it should delegate its responsibilities to expert" Asked if it were proposed, to call upon the assistance of Professor C pla.nd, tlie economic expert from Melbourne who is at present vistl .ng New Zealand from Australia, Mr. Forbes said- that he did not think that '.‘.ould be necessary. He thought that they could rely on expert advice from New Zealand economists, who were well versed in New Zealand conditions. *

Mr Forbes said that, so far as the Government were concerned, they would like to see Parliament continue its sittings while the Committee were deliberating. There was no lack of business that could lie,proceeded with. First of all, there were the Estimates. Then there was the Transport Licensing Bill, the Building and Construction Bill, also legislation giving effect to the proposal to postpone the Licensing Poll, which he intended to introduce to-morrow; and there was a further Bill yet to be introduced setting up n Development of Industries Board.

In reply to a question ns to whether the Committee would undertake a review of the Estimate for the current year, with a vjew tp effecting further economies, thp Prime Minister said that that would have to be determined by the Committee. The putting of the Estimates through was a long job, and any delay would, of course, prolong the length of the session.

MR. HOLLAND QUESTIONED. WELLINGTON, August 24. The Leader of the. Labour Party, Mr H. E l . Holland, was not inclined to comment on the Committee proceedings when he was approached this afternoon. He expressed the view that no ’one had any right to anticipate the discussions, Mr Holland made it clear, however, that so far as the Labour Party representatives on the Committee are concerned, they would stand by what he had stated in the House as Leader of the Party when speaking on Mr Coates’s motion on Friday. .This conference, he said, was an Economic Committee, set up to consider remedial steps for adjusting the national finances. It was not a Committee set up to consider political mat. ters. That being the case, there could be no discussion of the question of

postponing the general election, which, as lie had said in the House, would constitute a breach of confidence of the electors. Otherwise, the Labour Delegates would go to the Committee with a clear mind.

N.Z. LOAN CONVERSION

TO BE CONSIDERED BY COM-

MITTEE

WELLINGTON, August 24

Tliere is no possibility, or for that matter necessity, of any spectacular internal loan conversion scheme being considered by the Expert Sub-Commit-tee, which the Inter-Party Conference will appoint. The loans falling due in New Zealbcl during the current financial year total £6,948,856. Of this amount slightly under £2,000,000 is held by the public, and about half of it lias already been dealt with by way of renewal or redemption.

The balance of the £6,948,856 is held by departments. That means that roughly £5,000,000 will require yet to lie handled, and this matures in February next.

It is interesting to note that the average rate of interest on the whole of New Zealand’s public debt is 4$ per cent.

UNITED ORGANISATION’S RESOLUTION.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 23,

The following resolution was passed nt a largely attended meeting of the United Party Political Organisation nt which Mr J, B. Cunningham presided: "That this meeting of the United Political Party desire* to place on record its keen appreciation of the faithful and efficient services of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. O. W. Forbes) during his term of office, and views with approval the suggestion made in the House fo-clay by the Leader of the Reform Party (the Rt. Hon. J, G. Coates) to form a committee from all Parties for the purposes of making recommendations to meet tlie present crisis in the finances of the country; but feels that the Leadership of the country should remain in the .hands of the present Prime Minister, who was so far handled the tremendous difficutlies of the time in a masterly and courageous manner.”