GETTING TO WORK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 27, 24 September 1931, Page 3

GETTING TO WORK

("Post" Special Commissioner).

NEW CABINET review of budget position by coalition ministry probable CONSIDERATION OF POLICY

. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Already there are indications that the Coalition Government intends to lose no tirne in settling down to the practical problem of taking legislative and administrative actiop in an endeavour to restore the stability of the eountry. The first meeting of the new Cabinet was held this afternoon and there will be frequent meetings during the period of adjournment of the House of Representatives during which time the new Ministry will discuss the policy to be pursued and the worlc to be presented to the House for the remainder of the session. Present prospects point to the session lasting for at least a further six weelcs, and probably longer, but mucb will depend on the programme determined upon and the means of giving effect to its proposals. The amendment of Standing Orders, made during the March-April session, providing for the application of the closure still applies, and no doubt the Government will seek to make use of it if there is prolonged and insistent opposition from the official Opposition, which now constitutes only one-third of the members of the House. The procedure in regard to consideration of financial matters rema'ns somewhat obscure until cab- ' inet has decided on its course of action. The United Party Budget for the session has been presented, but the taxation measures proposed in it have not been given effect to as the taxing bills have not been introduced yet. Taxation Proposals The Customs resolutions moved on the night the Budget was presented wei e agreed to and became operative immediately and to that extent the United Government's scheme of taxation for the current year is now in force, but reconsideration will not improbably be given to the whole question of taxation, along with other questions. It is expected that soon after the House resumes, a supplementary Budget will be presented by the Coalition Ministry advancing fresh financial proposals. While the Reform Party gave general support to the United Government in the financial debate, there was no little criticism of the means of taxation proposed and it does not necessarily follow that the methods set out in the Budget will be endorsed. Some of the legislative measures which have been introduced by the United Party and only paitly considered by the House may also be subjected to modification by the new Cabinet. The most contentious bills awaiting consideration when the political crisis arose were the Broadcasting Bill, the Transport Licensing Bill and the Trading Coupons Bill, which is still before a committee of the House. Review of Estimates The estimates are also liable to undergo scrutiny and some amendment while the budgetary position is under review. The United Government had cut the estimates to what was considered to be the base bone, but consideration of possible further economies may lead to the question whether it is not possible or desirable still further to curtail expenditure on certain of the departments of the State. Without making allowance for legislative measures which may be brought down by the new Ministry, the ord-inary work remaining for the House to put through before the session can be concluded appears formidable enough. The estimates usually occupy eight or ten full sitting days, the taxing bills are not to be quickly disposed of, as most members wish to express themselves in sonsiderable detail on proposals materially affecting the pockets of the people, and then there are debates Dn the Public Works and railways statements, consideration of the Public Works and railway statements, mnsideration of the Public Works xnd supplementary estimates, etc.