EXCHANGE RATE AND SALES TAX.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20788, 23 February 1933, Page 13

EXCHANGE RATE AND SALES TAX.

RELIEF WORKERS' PROTEST. DEPUTATION REPRIMANDED FOR WASTING TIME. trnESS association TEL.r.uitAiJ.) WELLINGTON, February 22. A Sharp reprimand to members of a deputation for unnecessarily wasting tinie was given by the Rt. Hon. (5. W. Forbes, when relief workers from Lower Hutt protested to-day against the Government's policy in raising the exchange rate and introducing tho sales tax. Mr W. Nash, M.P., was stating what had occurred at a meeting at Lower Hutt, which rosUlted in the deputation, when Mr Forbes said, "I have read all these attacks in the paper. I did not know you were here for the purpose of repeating them." Mr Nash: The purpose is to place before you the feeling of the meeting. Air Forbes: I read it in the paper. Mr Forbes afterwards said it would be better to deal with things that could be remedied. He objected to a request that Mr Laird, who had read the greater portion of the meeting's resolution, should finish it. Ilc said there was nothing fresh about this sort of stuff. He submitted to tho reading, and when Mr Laird went oil with his speech he asked "How much longer are you going to speak!" Mr Nash said there were three more speakers. , When Mr Forbes still demurred, Mr Strand, Mayor of Lower Hutt, said, "I must Withdraw. I have a case to State but I cannot seo why you should be harassed aa you aro now." Mr Strand said he would put his caso at the Pxime Minister's convenience. Mr Forbes said if a deputation came before him he wanted the case put conClß Answering the representations made, lie said he believed that what was being done was in the best interests or the people. While they were charged with being callous they wero only human beings. The matters raised affecting relief workers would be put before the Minister for Employment.