MR. MASSEY’S WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1921, Page 7

MR. MASSEY’S WORK.

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE DELAYED. EFFECT UPON THE SESSION. The Imperial Conference is to open a good deal later than Mr. Massey expected when he left New Zealand. It appears that the first meeting of the Empire’s Prime Ministers will not take place until J une 20. The delay will give Mr. Massey time to attend, to various matters of business that he ha‘s undertaken on behalf of New Zealand, including the raising of a public works loan and the discussion of the allocation of the surplus wool profits, and from that point of view it may not be unwelcome. Another matter that is receiving some attention from the Prime Minister is the problem of enormously increased shipping freights and the offer that was made some time ago by the shipping companies to allow New Zealand to charter ships at tc blue book” rates. The delay will be disappointing to Mr. MasBey, however, as far as it affects the date of the opening of the session of Parliament in this country. The conference is not likely to occupy less than six weeks, and it may run into two months if proposals involving detailed examination by the experts attached to the conference are brought forward. It seems fairly certain, therefore, that Mr. Massey will not be able to leave London before the beginning of August and will not reach New Zealand before the middle of September. If Parliament meets at the beginning of September, so as to allow time for the disposal of formal business before the Prime Minister’s arrival, the period remaining before the Christmas holidays will be very short- for the legislation that has to be undertaken.

The chief business of the session, i?s already announced, is to be the Tariff Bill. Mr. Massey is to take charge of this measure, which is z to be based upon the report of the Departmental officers forming the Tariff Commission, and he. will require time for its consideration after he reaches New Zealand. The Bill, indeed, may not be ready much before that time. The Tariff Commission has almost completed the taking of evidence, but it has a mass of detailed work still ahead of it. Then, when tlje Bill reaches the House, there is bound to be a demand for delay in order that the many interests affected may make representations to the Special Committee to which the measure will be referred. The new tariff, of course, will become operative from the hour when it is presented to Parliament, but it will remain subject to review until it has been passed finally by both the Chambers. Just how long consideration and discussion will take cannot be estimated confidently, but it seems quite likely that the Bill will have to be carried into the New Year.

Debates on Imperial matters in the New Zealand Parliament have always been brief, probably because very few members have studied the problems of the government of the Empire and the relationships of its States. But if the Imperial Conference of this year reaches important decisions concerning the constitution of the Empire, Parliament may require some time for their discussion.