WAITING FOR COMMITTEE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 14, 8 September 1931, Page 4

WAITING FOR COMMITTEE

("Post55 Special Commissiones)

THE ROTORUA LAKE FRONT BILL

WELLINGTON, Sattirday. Parliamentarians this weelc have been sitting back, with an air of expectancy, because the inter-party committee is now nearing the deliberative stage. A huge pile of evidence has been colleeted, but the salient features should soon crystalise once the witnesses are out of the way. .When the committee was set up the "Post55 made a plea for a committee of experts rather than a committee of members of Parliament and based its contentions on the necessity for an economically sound plan" to cope with the depression. In Australia the Gopland committee formulated a scheme for the Gommonwealth in nine days and when it was adopted by the Federal Government, Australia won the applause of the world. Professor Gopland and his colleagues did not present a series of political expediencies but a definite policy logically based on the results of a scientific investigatiop. In New Zealand we apparently have to wait for a lead from a number of politicians who have been partly responsible for the meses we are in. • •- r ' When discussing the evidence of the economists with a number of pressmen on Friday night, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes), mentioned that the evidence of the economists who were being called would he extremely valuable, hut that the economists themselves had stated that they had been handicapped through lack of data. They had told the comniittee that if they had had before them the evidence the committee had colleeted, they would have been able to make more definite pronouncements. One would have thought that the committee would have said in one voice to the economists, "Take over the evidence, digest it and then give us your considered opinions." It would be better still if the economists had been able to take over the job, examine the witnesses and then present a report to Parliament, but this would not suit the hook of the politician with one eye on the elections. ' Broadcastiug Bill The Broadcasting Bill made a belated appearanee and it is yet doubtful whether it will reach the Statute Book. There is no doubt that the Radio Broadcasting Company is fighting tooth and nail for the control of the service for a further term, and the lobbying and propaganda have been both extensive and intensive. One result has been that some members of the Reform Party have argued against the Bill on the ground that it is setting up a new department and that it will involve further expenditure by the State. Such eriticism shows that the eritics have not read the contents of the Bill. It" cannot he too definitely stated that the broadcasting service is, and will remain, entirely self supporting. The whole of the expenditure upon it comes from the li'cense fees. Lake Frcrat Bill The Rotorua Borough Empowering Bill was passed by the House in a few minutes. After the Local Bills Committee had restricted the use of tho reclaimed area to recreatio'nal purposes the opposition to the measure disappeared, and it is almost certain that had this not been done the objections to the Bill would have overwhelmed it. There are a number of menibers in the House who scrutinse most carefully all local Bills and some of them have to run the gauntlet of heavy verbal fire. Generally it only takes one strong objector to start the ball rolling and an atmosphere of suspicion seems to pervade the House". Rotorua5s Bill is now in the hands of the Local Bills Committee of the Legislative Council, and will probably come back when the Upper, House sits again on September 17.