PEEPS IN PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 258, 28 July 1930, Page 8

PEEPS IN PARLIAMENT

Through Women’s Eyes

AN AMAZING BUDGET

(By

Mrs. Malcolm Ross.)

Added to the Government’s slogan of Economy must be the cry of Haste, for there are only four weeks before the Prime Minister packs his bags for the Imperial Conference. Fate has been unkind to him for the deaths that have occurred and the Bad ceremonies ensuing have taken up time that might have been devoted to legislation. A great national figure has gone with the death of Sir Robert Stout, most picturesque of men. In the speeches of condolence that were delivered in the House on Tuesday the little personal touches given by the Hon. Downie Stewart were very interesting. Under Mr. Stewart’s father Robert Stout began his law studies. Sir Robert once said that lie was one of a class of seventeen boys and nearly all rose to great positions in the world, in law and in commerce. It says much for the teaching in those early days when education was not free, children had to walk miles In terrible weather and over worse roads, living on the simplest food and In with perhaps the minimum of comfort. But one has to remember what splendid scholars Scot land produced from a diet of odtmeal and herrings. All the speakers dwelt on the amazing Industry ana kindheartedness of Sir Robert The Tariff.

The tariff resolutions brought down by the Government on Tuesday evening were a surprise to the House, and, it was said, will be regarded by the public with consternation. They met with very hostile criticism from Labour, Reform and Independents, one of the l a ti® r declaims that the Government should admit its failure and resign. Only flT ® was allowed to each speaker, and a staccato but Interesting discussion was the result. It takes a clever man to compress what he wants to say in so short a limit, and the little bell generally rang far too soon for the speaker. The petrol-tax increase is the chief objection, and it was pointed out that this would affect everyone, to® the^> an J“° rides In a bus to the small farmer who, already in a parlous plight, owns a « h * a ll car of popular variety. It was stated that. If this increase were levM, many of the small carriers would have to go out of business. All sorts sides the obvious one of P r ° Tlding venue, have been given for this particular desire to eurb extaava gance, an effort to stop more than one member alleged that it was to boost the railways “‘the expense of the private service cars and buses. Government cars, one hears, are paying dU On Wednesday evening the debate on unemployment was and itwas honed by the Government that it wouiu X by midnight. Bnt, ten minntes to twelve, Mr. Howard had more to say, and it will have to be resumed on_Thurs tive criticism had been voiced. He gave as his opinion that, If a labourer on B farm could not give full va ueuof wwk, ho should be paid by the farmer what he Is worth and the Government should make up the difference to standard wages bv way of a grant—a statement that some hailed as a reduction of wages. The Hon. Downie Stewart, »tyJ®J b? Mr. Lee Martin as the brainiest, man in the House,” though of course h watered down his praise afterward, made a eloar and telling speech, voiced so pleasantly and with so tittle effort 01 noisy oratory, that it was delightful to listen to. Ho hns • pawky humour, too, that never rankles. , Then too Budget,. Galleries packed to overflowing listened to the Budget on Thursday evening. It is extraordinary what attraction women see in the Budget, To most, it is a long, dreary recital. As a feat of endurance it was marvellous, and the Prime Minister is to be congratulated on the skill witn which he managed his voice so as to speak for two hours and a half without strain or hoarseness. But »» see ®’ ®” unnecessary exertion. In the Britlsn House of Commons the information is conveyed in a speech, members being referred to certain vari-coloured papers for further information. It was an amnztng Bndgot, with no economies, save the reduction of the Defence system, and with much /ncreased taxation, the policy of a party pledged to reduce taxation. Tho sting of the Statement lay in the tail, when Mr. Forbes explained his taxing proposals, .and even the weather appeared to sympathise with the oppressed country, for the thunder growled and floods of rain dasned down on tho great skylights, and the lightning was so vivid that, at times, It defied the brilliant electric lights. Several of tho women were scared. Excited Groups. When toe House rose there were excited groups in the lobbies and corridors discussing the position. One man said that he had never before seen a political suicide. The Prime Minister said that the Government had to cut its coat according to ita cloth. If these proposals came into force, the general public will have to be content with a sleeveless Jacket with no frills, a sorry garment- for the stormy weather that looms ahead. . There must have been many reflections that evening—as men smoked their cigarettes and drank their jorum of whisky—about the time, so soon to come, when tobacco would be a luxury and whisky 16/- a bottle. Of course, Labour was well content with the ten per cent increase on income—otherwise its silence was cryptic. 1