PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20997, 27 October 1933, Page 12

PARLIAMENT

Unemployment Policy Criticised IMPREST SUPPLY BILL BUDGET TO COME DOWN NEXT WEEK OTrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 26. Using the opportunity which is given them by the introduction of the Imprest Supply Bill to discuss isn unlimited range of subjects, Labour members devoted the whole day in the House of Representatives to-day to an attack on the Government's unemployment policy. The rates of pay allowed relief workers and the institution of piece-work were the particular subject? of their attack, which lasted from early afternoon until alter midnight. There were comparatively few Government speakers, those who did speak, like Mr Henry Holland, defending for the most part the Unemployment Board's administration. Mr Holland, in reply to the criticism of the Christchuich Laboui members, described the recent visit to the Ashley camp, which he daimed to have found in excellent condition. Mr A. Stuart (C., Rangitikei) won the distinction of being the first to criticise the new woman member ul the House, Mrs E. R. McCombs .(Lab., Lyttelton). He accused her of making incorrect statements, and provoked a minor "incident," which culminated in Mrs McCombs making a personal explanation. Otherwise the debate —if such a discussion could be called a debate—was uninteresting from first to last. There was no novelty, either in the arguments or in the manner in which they were expressed. By the appropriation last session financial accommodation for the conduct of State services was obtained until the end of the preseni month, and the Imprest Bill introduced to-day extends that accommodation in anticipation of the passing of the departmental votes on the estimates. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, asked for urgency on the bill, but the discussion was still proceeding at midnight. The second reading debate on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bill will be continued to-morrow, and will probably be finished by the time the House adjourns. The budget and the estimates for the current year will be presented by the Minister for Finance, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, either on Tuesday or Wednesday next.