The Waikato Times FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1936. RUSH OF LEGISLATION.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19892, 22 May 1936, Page 6

The Waikato Times FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1936. RUSH OF LEGISLATION.

The determination of the Government to "write into the laws of the country the policy of the Labour Party is shown by the speedy passage of many important measures. Probably there has leen no limited period in the history of the Dominion in which sue 1 a body of really important legislation has been passed, urgency having been claimed by the Prime Minister again and again, practice is, of course, open to criticism. In the first place the cooperation, of the people, upon which Mr Savage puts great lmpoi ance, can hardly be assured unless they have a knowledge o ic purport of the Bills and are given reasonable opportunity to assess their effects 011 the life of the community. In addition, New Zealand has had sufficient experience of hasty legislation, making 1 sary in one session to amend many of the measures passed in e preceding year. . There is, however, one effect usually overlooked, and that is the arduous tasks that many of these enactments place on t e shoulders of the Civil Service. Some Bills necessitate the creation of new machinery, involving many appointments and careful consideration of the administrative side of the business. These mat eis cannot be attended to in a day and time must be allowed for the re-organisation necessary. If for that reason alone it is to e hoped that the Government will see its way to give the legislative side a fairly long recess, in order that the administrative side may have an opportunity to effect the necessary changes. It has been demonstrated more than once this session that it does not ta *e long to pass even involved Bills, but the work of providing for their administration cannot be hurried unduly for mistakes might be made that would be serious. Taken as a whole it will be seen that the Acts passed in the last few weeks will necessitate extensive re-organisation in many departments of State activity. It should not be assumed that the administrative branch can easily keep pace with the legislative enactments, and it might be as well if the adjournment were taken as soon as possible. That would enable the members of Parliament to review the steps taken, but it would have the added benefit of affording the servants of the State the opportunity to establish machinery necessary and ensure its economical working. There have been unofficial reports that there is no little congestion in the head offices of Departments in Wellington, and in view of the number and the extent of the measures hurried through Parliament, that seems inevitable. A breathing space at an early date would enable any arrears to be overtaken.