IN PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1932, Page 3

IN PARLIAMENT

BETTER OUTLOOK

FOR EXPECTED FINISH

WELLINGTON, November 5

Several obstacles to Parliament’s progress have been overcome during the •week, and the prime Minister’s hope of finishing the. session comfortably .a week or go before •Christmas is, appreciably nearer realisation. The completion of the Budget debate on the first sitting day of the week removed one of, tne 'chief barriers, Although the House did 'riot actually transact ritycff business dur-i ring tine rest of the, week, by ridd’.ngi the 'Order Paper of numerous private' Bills and di posing of two important sections of'the Estimates, it has left the way now almost clear for tile introduction of the Government's ,• legislative programme. By the end of the coming weelk, almesf. all t' e minor issues of the session should have been dealt with, and put a 7 ide. One afternoon has been set apart for tile hearing of' local (Bills and another for tile circulation arid discussion of Ministerial answers to questions. Although tti-e •House ha« bed! in session for six week' questions only hav e go far been answered ; and many of. the “ordinary” ''questions' will have long ceased to be topical when ultimately the replies are rhnde.V The delay, could be overcome by-the circulation of replies weekly; but this would entity m'ost members who are always eag< i to d'scu s s them in ’ the visually vain hope of winning further information.

Thebe, is Likely t'o I»C a lively discussion when the reports of the Privileges ‘ Committee on various breaches are brought forward, probably on Tuesday or Wednesday next. •>Five Government Bills', note stand at th. e head of The Order Paper. The fltyt is the Customs Acts Amendhient Bill) which hris already been read a second time arid which wid be considered -in. Committee on Tuch '.ay. The Electoral Amendment- .Bill, extending the life of Parliament permanently to four years, the Rent," [Restriction Bill, the Pnesious Amendment' Bill, and the Local Authorities Sinking Funds Bill are . Set down for second reading in that order, but as -at least two of these, -measures , are ctratehtidus they are likely to rema'-n. ori tlhe agfihua' for soUHe t'.me yet. • ,v- [MEETINGS OF CABINET.

■Apart'from' this legislation, the Government has several other matters in hand. Cabinet met for .four hours or. Friday’ flight, and ■ had' another long sitting this morning.. The -Superannuation Funds Bill has' already been r e'ad a second time, pro forma, and referred to a special Select Committee, which will begin the hearing of evidence in, the coming week) It is hoped-to havt the Bill reported hack to the. House within three weeks, and although it; [provisions may : 'tlieri: he dbnsiderably aiKbh'ded',"' thefele ctftAiriTo. be K ; stVpng| opposition , to sonie.. of' the changes, which it involves. ' ; * i

The only, other Bills of major import-: Snc® appbar to b© the’ohe des-gUed te-’ eytabb’iih. ,a Central Rfese’rve .'Bank . iil ! NbW. Zeal and.,arid another giving effect to : the:• r'econimendatioPs- of the' National -Eicb'en'ditufe Commis-ibii fob thfe nitre econdinical administration of the Native Deportment.. ’A-ie firs); of these nvll no - , j'e advanced, far. until the return of the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W...Downie- Stewart) towards the end ol the month.. The Bill, in any caee, ha: not yet been received 'from the draft-.. :ng office. The Native Affairs Bill; pihposing mainly an anialgamati’on of i the Department’s activities js nlmo. s t l'Cadj for presentation to the House. % HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION. A Bill which may prove of. some iin-, portance is that dealing with hospital administration. It is described as mainly v. a machinery nieasiire, but it will also seek : to .allow hospital, districts to re. -amalgamated where amalgamation seems desirable in the interests. of efficiency and economy. Possibly the regulations issued udder the B ,: ll at a later stage will be more' enlightening than the Bill itself on this aspeot of hospital reform. The passing, of two important sec•Toris of the Estimates’on . Friday—the VitiJriial yAffTTs- Dopartrrierit'.s Estinates were dismiss'd in.two minutes— the value of this day of the ' week in Parliament. The Prirng Minister •saj’B, in effect, that tlie House nay go “i s soon ,is it finishes the work Te. proposes; and srioh, is the incentive of a week-end (and occasionally m urgency . motion)’ that there are very few delays after 5 o’clock. Tm addition, this las t Friday, Mr Forbes imposed a further discipline on members by notifying his intention to move tint Government business should in th'future take first place on , every sitting day.