Legislators Will be Busy Soon

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 65, 8 June 1927, Page 13

Legislators Will be Busy Soon

SESSION PROSPECTS SOME LIVE ISSUES AHEAD ( 7rom Our ' Jidcnt Reporter.) WELLINGTON. Monday. THE activities of Cabinet Ministers have lately been comparatively extensive, many of them having been through their own districts making pre-sessional speeches before settling down to the spade work of preparing legislation. It is usual for Cabinet to commence its Bill meetings about a fortnight before the Session, and meet almost daily till Parliament sits. The first meeting of this character as a preparatory measure to the coming session has not yet been called, but it is expected to take place within the next few days. Several Ministers are still away, but during their absence the Law Drafting Office has not been idle, and a great deal of the legislation is already prepared for reception when the House meets. Much more is still in the hands of the Departments * themselves —and indeed much is, no doubt, • still only in the stage of contemplation by those in charge of its introduction. BULKY PROGRAMME This year’s legislative programme is expected to be a bulky one, and is likely to provide some “snags” for removal by members. The Prime Minister has intimated in a very general way that several matters will be considered by the House, but he studiously avoided details of the Government’s intentions in these matters. With the completion of the Tariff Commission, there will almost assuredly be something in the nature of an amending Bill to give effect to whatever recommendation the Government feels disposed to adopt, while the Minister of Finance has already given his assurance that the Rural Advances Act will require alteration in some of its particulars. But just how far the Government will give effect to the Rural Credits Commission is difficult to discern at the moment. HIGHWAYS AND MOTORS Increased tax on the motorists, as predicted by Mr. Coates, immediately brings up the whdle question of highways maintenance, which doubtless will be well threshed as the Session progresses. With the control of motor legislation all under the Public Works Department, the administration will make for more expeditious working. In a general way a revision of the incidence of taxation has been promised, but the width of a field covered by these words appears almost infinite. The question, will doubtless be discussed, however. The Minister of Mines will be asked to handle amendments to the Mining Act, and just what will eventuate in respect to the prevention of explosions beneath the surface, as a result of the Dobson Commission’s report, cannot be determined till the whole question lias been thoroughly investigated. Something definite has also been promised in respect to the Shops and Offices Act, which has been the subject of many deputations to the Minister throughout the year. Many aspects of education there are that must be covered, while in the higher field of education the Agricultural College Act will be one of the hardest nuts of the session to crack. Several members from certain interested districts retain the view that all is not yet said on the matter of the Palmerston North site, and the review of the situation promised by the Government might possibly throwmuch of the relevant matter into the melting pot of discussion again. DAIftY CONTROL

Looming ever larger on the horizon of House debates —and becoming more complicated each -week—is the question of dairy control, upon which certain political figures have predicted a split of the Government. Nothing so serious as this is anticipated in the lobbies, but it is almost certain that the debate on the question will be long and extremely controversial. Much might even be said of the Government’s representative on the London Agency of the Control Board, who has not yet been announced. Dissatisfaction was expressed in some sections of the community at the suggested inadequacy of last session’s Licensing Bill, and the possibility is that something might-be done by the Government to get the liquor traffic just a little more in control to allay the feelings of those who have agitated so strongly for its reform since the definite promise of the late Mr. Massey during his last session in the House. WHAT OF ARBITRATION? Widespread protests from farmers and others at the operations of the Arbitration Court provide almost certain indication that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act will be amended, but it is suggested that the Government is reluctant to do away altogether with the court in view of the admittedly useful work it has performed in ssome industrial disputes. The existence of a slightly better feeling between employer and worker, which many employers declare is manifest, might influence the Government in any action in the direction of industrial legislation. Racing clubs will watch with interest for totalisator legislation which is declared in some quarters to bo desirable, but upon which the Government is saying nothing. City council and other governing bodies will want to restrict the activities of the community bus and might press for amendments to the Omnibus Traffic Act, while farmers will be interested in fertilisers and agricultural subjects BIBLE-! N-SCHOOLS Mr. L. M. Isitt has not given up the struggle for Bible in Schools, and in view of the close call which the Bill had during last session, much interest will become manifest when the measure is called upon at the Legislative Council. The new appointments to the Council might make a slight difference in the voting on this measure. but last year’s majority of one against the Bill is not likely to be repeated. On this particular subject there is a controversy as to whether ; a measure of such far-reaching effect i and such wide ramifications should be | instituted in the Council, which is in | a large measure regarded as a revisionj ary body. j After al6 years’ fight on the floor [of the Lower House, it is unlikely i

that Mr. T. K. Sidey will drop his Summer Time Bill, particularly in view of the narrow shave which it experienced in the Council, after having passed the Lower House last These, and other matters, will keep members busy for a great portion of the remainder of the year. AUCKLAND ALERT EYES ON LEGISLATION MAYOR CALLS MEETING Auckland members of Parliament, the mayor (Mr. G. Baildon), and the chairman of the committees of the Auckland City Council will meet together on Monday afternoon to discuss legislation concerning the city which may come before the House when it sits. Invitations have bc.-n sent to the members by the mayor.