POLITICAL WEEK

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 676, 31 October 1933, Page 5

POLITICAL WEEK

("Post's" Speeial Commissioner).

slow progress BANKING BILL CONTINUES TO HOLD UP'ALL OTHER MEASURES BUDGET IN TEN DAYS

Wellington, Saturday. With the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill before the House, the Government is.giving little - consideration to the remainder of its .legislative programme. This Bill has excited the liveliest interest among menvbers, and in view of the apparent, interest by outside bodies, they feel, that they cannot allow the debate to pass without recording their opinions. It is obvious from their speech.es that members have been delving into the banking authorities in the Parliament ary library, and works on .the subject of central banking like Kisch and Elkin's and "Central Banlcing" and R. G. Hawtrey's "Art of Central Banking" are being quoted widely with all the sang froid of deep CQmprehension. One wonder-s, however, if these books would have gone into circulation if the Bill had not come before the House. The general .public does not know the debt of gratitude members owe. to a competent library staff. Whenever there is. a debate on a subject that does not deal with roads and bridges, ragwort, or some other familiar topic, there is a rush to the librarian or his assistants, and they are expected to supply the appropriate quotations or references which give to a speech an air of distinction and scholarship. However, it is sometimes amusing and perhaps not a little embarassing when twQ or three members are given the same quotation. Not Much Light So far the discussions on central banking in the House have not thrown much light on the subjest. It can b.e said that all that has been. said or written before has not e.ven been embellished by the -welter of speeches which is being imposed on the New Zealand public. There is no doubt that the ipajority of the members .are behind ihe Bill. There are a few of the Coalition suporters who are in favour of .a State controlled institution, and had the Minister of Finance (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) not given the State a greater say in the management of , the bank he would have had a fairly large number of- opponents within the ranks of his own party. There was a great deal of straight talking in caucus while the Bill was under discussion there, and the Government had to modify its previous Bill which provided for a purely private institution such as has been set up in South Africa. As the Bill stands now the State has the dominating voice until June, 1936, and even after that date the Government has the means of giving expression to its wishes through its right to veto the appointment of the governor o,f the bank. No Budget Yet It is not expected that the Budget will make its appearance for at least ten days, and with it will appear the cstimates, which are a detailed Jist of the Government's appropriations for the year. By the time that the cstimates make their appearance over seven months of the financial year will have gone, and before the House finally g'ives its assent to the Government's programme another month at least will have passed. It seems almost ludicrous that members should cngage on long discussions on votes of money which had either been wholly or partially spent before they are even acquainted with the matter. Still this is Parliament, and one is told that this is custom. Slo w Progress The rate of progress in the House will have to he speeded up if the Government desires to get its legislative programme through before the Christmas holidays. Although the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill and the Companies Amendment Bill, ttie two most important measures of the session, are now before the House, there is a number of more or less minor measures which Cabinet is anxious to get through before the holidays. The Budget debate, iji whiqh each member has the right to speak for an hour, against half an hour in the Address-in-Reply, will take several days, as many members regard this as their most important opportunity of the session, and the accompanying* estimates generally involve long discussions on diffsrent items of departmental activities. Days have been promised to private members for their bills, and the Gaming Bill for instance will very likely be before the House for three or four days at least if the Government gives it a run. Thus it is evident that there will be^ a few all-night sittings before Parliament adjourns for the year. More Registrations It is reliably stated that the Poultry Bill, which was rejected by the Legislative Council in the dying hours of last session will make its reappearance this year, and its sponsor, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan) has hopes of bringing down three cther registration measures, dealing with stallions, stock foods and tomato-growers. Last. year when these Bills were either mooted or before the House, Mr. Macmillan earned the title of "Minister of Registrations," and it is likely that if he persists with his present intentions, he will have to meet a fire of caustic comment once again.