On the Shelves

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 325, 10 April 1928, Page 8

On the Shelves

PIGEON-HOLED LEGISLATION Parliament’s Unfinished Tasks BEFORE Parliament sits again, the law draughtsman at Wellington will take from the legislative shelves at Parliament Buildings many measures which last v ear were dangled tantalisingly before the eyes of expectant po itna partisans and then pigeon-holed*for further and more maiurt action at the next session of the House of Representatn es.

shelving, or placing aside, of Bills which have appeared before the Chamber of Representatives, or measures which have been drafted and not introduced, does not necessarily mean a lack of intention on the part of the Government to press them to the Statute Book stage; nor does it necessarily indicate a tantalising attitude on the part of a shrewd Cabinet to keep the people keyed up to expectancy of certain legislation. On occasions a Government unblushingly drops a Bill for the undisguised reason that it is a thorn in the side of the existing administration, and because a short postponement of the evil day might register a change in the feeli — of the people

on the particular subject, and make easier the way for its later introduction and passage. At other times a Bill is brought into the House without any intention of its going ahead until those most affected have had an opportunity of studying its provisions and offering suggestions for amendments before it becomes law'. Two such are on departmental files at the present time, and in a short while they will be dusted and revised so that a comparatively smooth passage will be assured when they are again brought forward. These are the Cinematograph Tax Bill, which was introduced by the Prime Minister toward the end of last session with the specific intention of referring it to the movie interests within the Dominion; and the Petroleum Bill, which was brought forward by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, so that a particularly difficult subject could be studied at leisure during the recess, and advantage taken of any suggestions w'hich might come from those who would be affected by its operation. TAX ON FILMS The Cinematograph Film Tax Bill is based largely on the lines of the English Act, and, in addition to establishing machinery for the collection of a renters’ tax of 5 per cent, on New Zealand films, 7 h per cent, on British films and 12£ per cent, on foreign films, it institutes a sliding quota regulating the percentage of British and New Zealand films which are to be shown. Renters as well as

exhibitors are subject to the quota, which will work up to 20 per cent, in the year 1936. Licences for the recovery oi petroliferous deposits will cause the authorities much thought and cost them a great deal of time, because the task of designing legislation which will administer justice, and at the time secure the greatest result for the State, is one of the most difficult that has been placed in the hands of the Minister of Mines. On the shelves —but kept so mucii. in the eye of the public that dust has not settled on its leaves- is the Licensing Amendment Bill of 19t<. which aroused such a stir among members of all parties of the House in the dying stages of last session that lobbyists whispered of possible dissolution of the Government, the forfeiture by Mr. Coates of the party leadership, and other drastic political crises -which would have changed the whole tenor of the > d Parliament in a night. Apart altogether from the contentious clauses relating to the construction of the ballot paper and to the majority decision at the polls, much in the Bill was acclaimed by both sides as a genuine step toward improvement in the trade, but when he perceived the futility of conciliation, Mr. Coates allowed it to slip into the void of legislative nothingness. To attempt a prediction of what will happen during this session—the last before a licensing poll-—would be more than daring. One of the Bills -which was dropped as the easiest way out was the Education Amendment Bill, which aroused the suspicions of Oppositionists because of a clause which gave education boards power to fine teachers up to £lO for minor offences. A stonewall was threatened over this provision, and as the session had dragged on for nearly six months, the measure was allowed to fall back on to the list of “Bills dropped or otherwise disposed of.” GAMING CROWDED OUT Gaming legislation, in the hands of Sir George Hunter, which survived the second reading stage of the Lower House, was crowded out in the last minute rush, presumably on account of the pressure of time upon Government measures. Divisions during the second reading stage, however, indicated a majority in favour of the general sentiment of the double totalisator, the telegraphing of money to racing club secretaries and the publication of totalisator dividends. The Musicians Registration Bill, sponsored privately by Sir John Luke, did not get a place in the final washup, but it is conceded that the Minister of Education does not object to its provisions. The Opticians’ Bill, brought down by the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Toung, and later dropped, might occasion more than a little discussion on account of the qualifications required for the registration of opticians. The Religious Exercises in Schools Bill, classed definitely among the contentious trio at last session, was defeated straight out by the House, through the carriage of the simple motion to postpone consideration for six months—to a date when Parliament is in recess. The tenor of the House appeared to favour the Nelson voluntary system of religious instruction. All these measures, which now repose inanimate on the shelves, will be imbued with life when the 192 S session approaches, but if the usual election year custom prevails, the session will be too short to give more than cursory consideration to more than those of the greatest import, or those in the greatest demand—for this is a year in which the people’s cry must he heard and heeded!