PARLIAMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 338, 27 September 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

("Post" Special Comxnissioner.)

SESSION PROSPECTS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO UPPER HOUSE? LABOUR'S NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION.

Wellington, Monday. Although the Speech from > fjhe Throne was mueh shorter than usual this sessi'on, it gave an outline of the Government's legislation in greater > detail than is customary, and already " the Govexannent has given further indications of its progranxxne. The most far-reaching decision so far made xs that to establish a Ceixtral Reserve Bank. It has been common knowledge for some time that Cabinet opinion has been favourable to the scheme, as outlined in the report submitted by Sir Otto' ISfiemeyer to the New Zealand Government, and it is also known that -the Bank of England is lceen that there should be a chain of central banlxs througlxout the Dominions of the Empire. It is felt by banking autliorities at Home that a system of central hanks would bring about greater co-ordination and understanding on financial and exchange matters among the countries of the Empire, and thus not only facilitiate trade and credit, but' also strengthen the hand of England in its desire for world financial reform It was generally considered, however, that the definite announcement of the Government's policy woula be delayed until the return of the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart) from London, but evidently sufncient information has been received from Mr. Stewart to justify an announeement before his arrival back in New Zealand. Probably, however, Mr. Stewart will have charge of the legislation, which was outlined by Sir Otto Nienxeyex*, when it cornes before the House. Central Reserve Bank. The New Zealand central x^eserve bank will have powers similar to that of the central reserve bank of South Afriea. It will have the sole right of note issue, the sole control of the ex-

change, and will keep th'e Govex'nment accounts. Tlxe bank will he free from political control, and at the same time it will be independexxt of the trading banks at present operating in the Dominion. The Prime Minister stated to-day that the Government would not require any more than two days for the disposal of the Address-in-Reply debate, and he added that it depended on the attitude of the Labour Party as to whether, as th'e Government hoped, the debate would finish at the end of the week. So far Mr. Forbes, as he indicated in his reply to a _ question by Mr. A. E. Jull, has not conferred with the Leader of the Opposition oix the possibility of fixing a definite date for the conclusion ofi the discussion, but in view of Mr. Holland's previous contention tbat the work of the House should be "systematised" there seams no reason why he should not fall into line with axxy reasonable suggestion. Address-in-Reply. On the ground that they would only add to the topics that could he discussed, the Govexmment does not intend to place before the House the

report and Customs aniendments in connection with the Ottawa Conference agreements until the Address-in-Reply debate is out of the way. Mr. Forbes has stated that representatives of the secondary industries will have axxxple opportunity to nxake representations to the Government on the Customs amendments before the legislation is finally passed, but iix his opinion they will be quite satisfled with the proposals which have been franxed. The Governxxient's policy in connection with appointments to the Legislative Council is being awaited with interest. The Council has now . a memhership of only twenty-three, and with three xnore due- to retire next month the ranks of tlxe "Lords" will be very thin indeed. There is 1x0 doubt that several of those who have recently lost their seats oi" whose terms are about to expire are most reluctant to go into retirement, and reprssentations have been nxade to the • Government on their behalf, but on the other hand the Government has shown a reluctance to make any new appomtments. Three to Retire. Nominally the memhership of the Council is half that of the Lower House, but it has frequently exceeded that nunxher. 'In view of th'e Govern-

ment's desire to economise, and the reconxnxendation of the National Expenditure Commission that the size of the Legislature should be reduced, it will be interesting to see what action Cabinet will take. . . The three members due to retire shortly are the Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes, who was for a nuinber of years a nxember of the Reform Ministry, the Hon. L. M. Isitt, who- has taken a prominent part in sponsoring Bible-in-Schools legislation, and . th'e Hon. G. Mr. Witty. Both Mr. Isitt and Mr. Witty were for a number of years in the Lower House, and it will be remembered that they saved the Massey Administration from defeat after the 1922 election. Neither stood at the following election, but socn afterwards again nxade their appearance as members of the Legislature in "another place."