READING OF BUDGET

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 263, 19 August 1949, Page 5

READING OF BUDGET

Galleries in Parliament Well Filled (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 18. “Swan Song,” commented Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) from the Opposition front benches ivhen the Minister of Finance (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash) resumed his seat in the House of Representatives at 9.25 o’clock to-night after presenting the Labour Government’s fourteenth Budget. Government members, however, warmly applauded Mr Nash when he completed the presentation of the Budget after nearly two hours of reading. Apart from an occasional facetious remark there were few interjections throughout the evening. The galleries were well filled, hut there were one or two vacant seats when the House met, and Mr Nash crossed the floor of the House in the customary manner to present a copy of the Budget to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) before beginning to read it. Women in the galleries included 12 knitters and one engaged in tatting, but they all appeared to follow Mr Nash attentively. One portion of the Budget which caused obvious interest on the Opposition benches was the reference to possible dollar loans from the United States and Canada. When Mr Nash concluded the House adjourned without delay at 9.27 o’clock until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.