BUDGET DEBATE NEARS END

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27150, 21 September 1953, Page 8

BUDGET DEBATE NEARS END

PARLIAMENT

Waning Of Interest ] Apparent 47 PARTICIPANTS UP TO FRIDAY EVENING (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 20. The Budget debate, whidh has passed the stage where much interest is being taken in it, will end this week, and the House of Representatives will then settle down to discussing and passing legislation, much of which has still to be introduced. Forty-seven members —25 Government and 22 Opposition—have taken part in the financial debate so far. Some Ministers have not spoken, and they will probably be given the evening broadcasting time on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving the debate to be wound up by the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (Mr Holland), possibly on Thursday evening. The most important member still to speak for the Opposition is the Deputy-Leader (Mr C. F. Skinner). All Canterbury members except two— Messrs W. H. Gillespie (Government, Hurunui) and D. C. Kidd (Government, Waimate)—have taken part in the debate. Up to Friday, most members had spoken for the full hour allowed each one in the debate, and there was some silent approbation when Mr W. H. Freer (Opposition, Mount Albert), one of Parliament’s youngest members, described the length of the debate and the speeches as absurd. With the Budget debate almost out of the way, some are endeavouring to forecast the end of the session. Pessimists have mentioned December 11, but the optimistic ones favour the end of November. In favour of a November ending is the fact that members will be keen to return to their electorates in plenty of time to complete their arrangements for the Royal visit.