LONG SITTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 206, 30 August 1940, Page 3

LONG SITTING.

FAIR RENTS ACT.

OPPOSITION ALERT.

HOUSE FORCED TO DIVIDE.

WELLINGTON, this day.

At, was expected, the Statutes Amendment Will, with its miscellany of 59 clause?, iliil not receive a particularly smooth inMfupe through the House of Representatives yesterday. Several of its provisions received the studied attention of thi! Opposition.

One of these was the clause extending the provisions of the Fair Rents Act for another year. There was considerable objection to thie from the Opposition benches ami when in committee they forced the House to a division on it. The clntwe was retained by 24 votes to 17.

At 9 p.m. the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, sewing a protracted discussion, »nd anxious to clear the bill off the order paper, asked for urgency and it «ae 2.20 a.m. before the House rose.

After a protracted discussion on the (hops nnd offices' clause during the afternoon, the Finance Bill, No. 2, made its appearance, but contrary to expectations it contained no surprises.

The question of the easing of petrol restrictions was the subject of some remarke by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Naeh, in reply to a question. The Minister was not particularly encouraging to thoee organisations which are pressing for some relaxation.—(Parliamentary Reporter.)