THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1920, Page 2

THE COMING SESSION.

A MUCH CHANGED HOUSE.

FINANCIAL POSITION AND TEE TAXATION QUESTION.

People have got into the habit of looking forward to every new session as likely to be the most interesting foi years Time after time, when public feeling has been stirred about various matters, it has been 3aid that there would be lively doings when ,v„ House met. But just as regularly as tliesa predictions >have been made the session has passed off in rather ordinary fashion.

This year political tipsters probably "'ill forecast that the session of Parliament will become noted for the warmth and the color of its debates and the interest that will hang upon its divisions (says the Wellington Times). So far as is known, the session will begin at its usual time, the last Thursday in June—to name the date, June 24th. That it will be an interesting session there can be no doubt, and it is inevitable that its activities or inactivities will be of considerable importance to the country. It will bp a long session, lasting, most likely for Ave months. Maybe it will go even longer, and we will see once again the Christmas rush.

FAMILIAR FIGURES ABSENT.

One of the most striking figures about I the new House will be.its big proportion of new members. Many a well-known face will be absent from the Chamber, and among the missing will be some of the best known men in New Zealand politics. Most notable of these is Sir Jose>ph Ward, now on his way to England to enjoy a rest from politics. No rest in the quiet of private life, far from the turmoil of public service, can have been better earned, but it will take a while to get used to ft House which lacks the familiar figure of the popular statesman who for so long guided the destinies of the Liberal Party. In his place, however, we will find the gentleman who for some considerable time had been Sir Joseph's able lieutenant, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, than whom there is no more respected man in the Houee.

Another who graced the Liberal benches for many years and charmed the House by the beauty of his speech, Sir James Carroll, also is amongst those who will not share in the business of this year's session.

The most notable absentee from the Government benches will be Sir James Allen, who goos to England .to .be our High Commissioner, in place of Sir T Mackenzie. Another of the last Massev Ministry, Mr. J. B. Hine, who was defeated at Stratford by Mr. Masters, a Liberal, will be absent.

CABINET CHANGES.

The Cabinet benches will hold several new occupants. Messrs. Parr, Lee and Anderson are all new to their business, and before the House meets there may be further changes in the Cabinet. The Prime Minister still has the power to appoint another Minister, atid from a remark he passed recently it may be taken as not at all impossible that he wi'l exercise .that right. Two important Ministerial offices are only temporarily filled at present. Mr. Ooates is occupying the Defence Office temporarily, and if it is possible to re lieve him of it before the session, this course probably will be followed, as he is regarded already as having a little more than enough for a comparatively new Minister to look after. Who wiil the Defence mantle fall on? Political circles have their whispers, but there is no . B™' indication. Another knotty point for the Prime Minister is thV Presidency of the Board of Trade. Mr Massey now fills .this office, and the feeling amongst those who consider his team at all closely is that he will keep it, although it is generally considered that he would be glad to drop it.

THE YEAJVS LEGISLATION.

Cabinet is at present considering the matter of the legislation to be presented to the House this session. The Prime Minister says the programme is a big one, and that it is important, but as yet he has given no public intimation of the nature of it. There is every indication however, that a long, hard session is expected. i

One of the features of the session may ♦ ' e g' alati( > n - It is common tauc tm&t the Government is rather hard up, and if this is the case a very interesting position may arise. On the subject of finance comment is being made on the spending proclivities , onc or two of the new Ministers, whose promises are said to have occasioned some uneasiness with tJhe Prime Minister.

It is expected that there will be a big burget of education legislation— grants tor school buildings, increases in salaries, etc. The Public Works Department is reckoned likely to require a big vote. It is known that an extensive local government programme w,.s being prepared, but now that there has teen a change in the head of this branch—Hon. . J-Anderson takes over from Sir JVane« Bell—there is no certainty that the original ideas* will be pursued.