THE HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24423, 8 October 1940, Page 6

THE HOUSE

PRESENT SITTING END EXPECTED THIS WEEK SURVEY OF PROGRAMME (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. It is anticipated that the present sitting of Parliament will finish ai the end of this week. The main business will be the debate on the Excess Profits Tax Bill, which will be opened tomorrow night by the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash) and will no doubt occupy two or three sitting days. It is an extremely complicated measure which is likely to cause a great deal of discussion in the House of Representatives. The other business to come before the House is of a relatively minor nature. It consists for the present of the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, containing a provision giving the Arbitration Court power to fix the opening and closing hours of shops, a Termites Bill dealing with the control of Ihe white ant pest, and a Native Purposes Bill. A Bill is also to be introduced providing pensions for men of the mercantile marine who suffer disability as the result of enemy action, and for their dependents. This will be similar to the existing pensions legislation for the armed forces. When the House meets to-morrow afternoon tributes will be paid to the memory of Mr John Hutcheson, a former member of the House of Representatives, and the House will then adjourn until the evening as a mark of respect. The debate on the Excess Profits Tax Bill will be interrupted on Wednesday afternoon while Ministerial replies to members’ questions are discussed.