BUDGET DEBATE COMPLETED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 260, 2 November 1932, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE COMPLETED.

PRIME MINISTER** SPEECH. NOTICE OF LEGISLATION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Almost a month after the introduction of the Budget the debate on it came to an end last night, when the Prime Minister, in a speech which was mainly informative, replied to the protracted discussion. Mr. Forbes was the sixtieth speaker. Three-quarters of the members had exercised their right to speak, and the -majority of them took up their full hour. The debate was never brilliant, but it has given members. plenty of opportunity of replying to the challenge of the National Expenditure Commission, as well as of getting their views on a hundred and' one subjects recorded. Surprise was expressed by the Opposition at the beginning of the afternoon's sitting, when Mr. Forbes moved for urgency for the debate. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, was early on his feet, asking why urgency was being asked for when the debate was in its last stages. "You. never know," retorted the Prime Minister, with a smile. He explained that he did not think it would be necessary to sit late, but he was making sure that the debate would end at the sitting. Apart from interminable speeches dealing with the Budget, the only items of interest yesterday were a notification of the Government's intention to renew the Bent Bestriction Act, and notice of the introduction of the Electoral Amendment Bill, which will provide for "increasing the life of future Parliaments to four years. The formalities in connection with the issuing of the writ for the Motueka by-election were completed. The House also decided that the sittings of the Select Committee, which is to hear evidence concerning the amendment to the superannuation funds legislation, will be open to the Press.