THE COMING SESSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10617, 16 June 1920, Page 4

THE COMING SESSION

BIG MEASURES DUE THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE DOMINION. TAXATION OR RETRENCHMENT? The coming session—the first of tlia new Parliament—which is to commence on Thursday next, is expected to bo a long and busy one: possibly, in some respects a stormy one. An unusually large, percentage of new members have to find their feet in Parliament for the first time, and it is held that they will mindly ba anxious to make good in tire eyes of their constituents and show that they are the right sort of timber to nrako legislators of. 'Hie new Ministers, who are to meet Parliament for the first time in that exalted capacity, will also, it is advised by the political quidnuncs, bo anxious to prove themselves and win their spurs in the passages-at-arras which cannot but take place between the two front benches. To all intents and purposes this is the first post-war session; for last session, though the National Government was at an end, was still held, , it is pointed out, under the- shadow, ns it were, of the great war, and tho Liberal party, as its then Leader stated, of sot purpose, refrained from doing anything that might tend to embarrass the Government in dealing with the groat and pressing problems that confronted it. This session, however, (he position will he. very different. Partv affiliations are more clearly cut, and it is anticipated that party feeling, even if it docs not run high, will function much more strongly in 1920 than it did in 1919. * A LONG SESSION. Apart, therefore, from the business to bo done, it is considered likely that more time will be consumed in talk than was the case during the war and while the Peace Treaty and Samoan Mandate still hung in the balance. But it is expected that, in order to cope with the arrears of legislation due to the war, a- large number of measures, some of them of no little importance, will he brought down; and Mr Massey has warned members betimes that they must coma prepared for a- five to six months’ session. There is a great deal of leeway to make up in regard to industrial legislation; but it is not considered likely that the Reform Government—except, perhaps, by way of showing that “Codim Is tire friend, not Short” —will do much in this direction. though Ministers certainly replied sympathetically to a Labour deputation which waited upon thpm some time ago in regard to industrial matters. COMING LEGISLATION. >

An Education Bill of some import* unco is understood to be pn the stocks—in fact, practically ready for launching; and education is generally regarded as a knotty and time-cqn-suming problem so far as legislation is concerned. A, Public Health Amendment Bill is considered to be a. certainty: but whether time ■ will permit of its introduction, except in a somewhat truncated form, remains to be seen. Housing and town-planning, it is held, are also matters that call for further legislation, but they may bo relegated to “th« not far distant future” of a later session. The more effective co-ordination of local government is another question on which a big measure is long overdue, hut those who claim to know' the run of the ropes maintain that in regard to this question the Massey Government will be inclined to let well enough alone. A Hallways Amendment Bill is forecasted with much confidence: and on this a lot of time might well he consumed. The Lands Department is also understood to have an important Land Bill under way to deal with a number of administrative and . other anomalies ■which have manifested themselves in the working of the various Land Settlement Acts, etc. THE DOMINION'S BALANCESHEET.

The Financial Statement, it is urn. derstood, practically only awaits submission to the final .approval by Cabinet. But, as to it<s proposals, not a word of information is to be gleaned anywhere, except the bint, the veryplain hint, given by Mr. Massey to tiio p. and T. Conference' deputation on Monday, that railway freights and tares and postal and telegraph rates will have to be raised to meet, ia part at least, the increased wages, salaries, or bonuses to be given to public servants on account of the rise m the cost of living. The Consolidated Fluid will have to make up tha balance, but Mr Massey stated that he hoped to do this without having recourse ’to further taxation. Indeed, it is understood that the Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister; is very anxious to avoid any additional taxation; though it is considered probable bo will attempt somb adjustment of taxation with a view of removing certain anomalies complained of by members of his party —the farmers’ income tax, tor - example. RETRENCHMENT PROBABLE.

Some attempt at departmental retrenchment is u4ioi expected; but. even if this could appreciably reduce expenditure, .it is hold to ho very unliKely that, whatever adjustments of taxation arc made, any reduction of tho total tax burden cun be. effected. In some quarters a certain measure of tariff revision in the direction of protection for secondary industries is held to bo foreshadowed by recent speeches by leading industrialists, and it is stated that at the same time increased Imperial preference may be given and come endeavour made to come to a reciprocity agreement with tho Commonwealth of Australia and perhaps with the Dominion of Canada.