BUDGET DEBATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE.

INTO A WHIRLPOOL.

LABOUR ACCUSATION.

PRIME MINISTER'S NAME.

INDIGNANT REFUTATION.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.

Flowing smoothly for the greater part of the day the stream of discussion in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives, was plunged unexpectedly into a whirlpool last evening when Sir. A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill) accused Mr. F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga) of having coupled the name of the Prime Minister (Mr. Savage) with that of a woman named or unnamed. This accusation was strongly denied hv Mr. Doidge. who was fully supported by memliers on the Opposition side of the House. The scene was one of the liveliest witnessed this session.

Mr. Doidge finally refuted the statement made by Mr. Richards and the debate then ran on without interruption.

In the main discussion was confined to members of the back benches of both parties, and by extending the sitting to 11.'25 p.m. the House was able to hear seven additional speakers for the day, making 4:? in all who have contributed to tlie debate.

The Opposition made a strong effort to obtain a declaration of the Ministerial view on the highly critical comment of the British foreign policy heard from members of the Government party.

Satisfaction, however, was expressed with the definite indications from the deputy-Leader of the House, Mr. Fraser. that the Government was fully behind the British authorities. It is anticipated that the debate will conclude with tomorrow's sitting.