PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ARBITRATION AMENDMENTS. (By Telegraph—Per Press .4 ssociation l WELLINGTON, April 9. The Legislative Council resumed at 4.30 p.m. yesterday. Tihe Statutes Revision Committee reported the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, with amendments. The leader, Sir James Parr, explained that the amendments made were in the direction of making the language of the Bill clearer, and he expressed appreciation of the work performed by the Committee. The Council rose at 4.15 p.m. NATIONAL EXPENDITURE BILL. < DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. The National Expenditure Adjustment Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral’s message when the House resumed at 5.20 p.m, The Leader of the Opposition -said : “It is apparent from the long title, that, the Bill is the most dangerous, and reactionary piece of legistation that- has ever been placed before Parliament, since New Zealand has had a representative Government. It -seems to contain proposals, of which details have been given to newspaper editors before they are placed before file House.” Mr Forbes said it was not uncommon for a Government to discuss matters with editors of newspapers. There had been no attempt to come to any arrangement with editors, who would, no doubt, have resisted any attempt to interfere with the conduct of newspapers. Mr Forbes -said that he de-i-iivd to pay tribute to the untiring work of the Minister of Finance, who, during the last montih, had been carrying 'in discussions with various or-

ganisations with regard to the most far-reaching legislation that had ever been placed before the country. Discussion of aspects of the legislation was simply one- of the phases of its preparation, and no one had been placed in a better position than tile members of tilic House, in regard to -the actual contents of the Bill. Mr Forbes expressed the opinion that a study of th(> Bill would reveal that oven-hamlcd justice was being done to every body. The, Bill was read the .first time by 43 to 24 votes, and the House rose at 6.20 p.m. until Tuesday.