PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 166, 9 April 1932, Page 12

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

House Passes Unemployment Amendment FINANCIAL READJUSTMENT PROGRAMME Economy Proposals Contained in New' Measure ■ ’ ——— (From Our Parliamentary Representative.) The National Expenditure Adjustment Bill, giving effect to the Government’s policy of financial rehabilitation enunciated the previous evening by the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Dowme Stewart was introduced in the House of Representatives early last evening by Governor-General’s Message. It may rightly be classed as among the most important measures placed before Parliament for a generation, for it forms part of a three to four-year plan whose implications were undreamed of before the position of the country made the taking of drastic measures imperative. It was a very jaded House that waited all day for the appearance of the Bill. Members had been up all night on the Unemployment Amend- • ment Bill, which was not passed until shortly after 7.30 yesterday morning, and there were many who had not closed their eyes at all by the time of the afternoon resumption. As it happened there was a last- ' minute rush at the printing office to get the new Bill into print and two adjournments had to be .taken in the afternoon as a means of killing time, for there was nothing else for the House to do, the available busi r . ness having come to a sudden end. • The Bill contains proposals which the Labour Party immediately declared it would fight from the very start, and for three-quarters of an - hour members of the Opposition took advantage of the introductory stages i to launch a strong attack upon the Government on account of its inten- ' tions. Mr. H. E. Holland described the measure as “one of the most ■ f dangerous and reactionary that had been placed before Parliament since - 1 New Zealand had a system of representative Government,” and he spoke " for his party in declaring that no opportunity would be lost to block all progress. It is conceivable that, had members not been anxious to catch . trains and boats for their homes, they would have spent as much time ’’ on the preliminary stages as they did on the arbitration law amendment, but. speakers had their eyes on the clock, and they stopped short just after 6 o’clock, thinking they would be able to take copies of the Bill home with them after the first reading. There was great disappointment when it was found that the printing had not been finished and those . leaving for the week-end went empty-handed. The House will resume on Tuesday to start the second reading debate, and it is fully expected that several days will be needed to dispose of the measure. After that, the Prime Minister said, 1 in reply to a question after the House rose, at least two more Bills would be introduced, one being a financial measure, another tyeing for the purpose of giving effect ) to taxation proposals.

1/- TAX TO STAND

Relief of Unemployment HOUSE PASSED BILL Many Amendments Defeated After an all-night sitting the House of .Representatives passed the Unemploymen. Amendment Bill at 7.30 yesterday morning. The most notable feature of the Bill is the increase in the emergency unemployment charge from 3d. to 1/- in the pound. Salaries, wages, and other income will pay taxation on the new basis as from the beginning of next month. Labour and Independent members made numerous attempts to amend various clauses in the Bill, but all their efforts were unsuccessful. With the exception of a minor alteration made by the Government to enable the Minister in Charge of Unemployment to negotiate with owners of property and to arrange for improvements to lands, the Bill was passed in its original form. The Bill, as drafted, provided that the Minister could enter into such negotiations on the recommendation of the Unemployment Board, but he is now empowered to act independently of the board. Nearly three hours after discussion had opened on the short title, Mr. W. E; Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) moved as an amendment that consideration of the clause be postponed to give the Government an opportunity to frame proposals to provide for the payment of sustenance to unemployed women. . The Chairman of Committees. Mr. S. G. Smith, ruled the amendment out of -order. “The wording,” he said, “cannot be accepted as an amendment to the short title.” Mr. Parry Well, if it is out of order, I will simply' move the postponement of the clause. Tile amendment was seconded by Mr. C. L. Carr (Lab., Timaru), but after he had spoken in support of postponing the clause Mr. Parry, asked leave to withdraw it. Application of Closure. When the short title had been under consideration for over three hours and a half, Mr. Coates said he thought members had had "a fair spin,” and that they might allow it to go through. i . Mr. J. O’Brien (Lab., Westland) said he had not spoken at all since the House had gone■' into committee, and when he hail finished his ten minutes’ speech Mr. Coates moved the closure. This was agreed to by 44 votes to 23, after which the short title was carried on the voices. Mr. W. 'E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) sought to amend clause two so as to make the payments of sustenance allowances mandatory or obligatory instead of permissive. If the Bill were amended in that way, he said, it would strengthen the legislation. It could be left to the board to decide whether sustenance should be in the form of money, food, or clothing. The amendment was lost by 44 votes to 22. Reference was made by Mr. P. Eraser (Lab., Wellington Central), to the clause repealing the provision for the payment of a subsidy to the Unemployment Fund from the Consolidated Fund. The Government should have the power to supplement the unemployment funds from the Consolidated Fund if this course were necessary. The clause shut, barred and bolted the door against tiny contribution from the Consolidated Fund. Nobody could say what was going to happen, but the Government was placing itself in the position of being unable to take anything from the Consolidated Fund. He was not in favour of the Government’s hands being tied in that way. Mr. Contes- said it was within the power of Cabinet to make a contribution from the Consolidated Fund and ask Parliament to sanction it. later. Mr. R. Semple (Lab., Wellington East): That seems to be putting the cart before the horse. A division was called for on the clause, which was retained by 42 votes to 23. Wages Tax Increase. When the clause increasing the wages tax to a shilling in the pound was reached, the Chairman intimated that he had an amendment from Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (fnd.. .Egmont), to exclude wages and salaries of less than £1 per week from the charge. Dlr. Fraser was immediately on his feet to move that consideration of tbo clause be postponed, whereupon Mr. Wilkinson said he would give way to Mr. Fraser. ' Mr. Fraser said his reason for seeking the postponement of the clause was to enable the Government to take

into consideration the substitution of an equitable graduated unemployment charge.

Mr. R. A. Wright (Govt., Wellington Suburbs) said he would like to see the Minister do something to exempt those on the very low salaries. There were a number of married men in Wellington who by indefatigable energy averaged about £2 a week in wages. Certainly their houses were practically free from mortgages and so forth, but anything taken off those people would be most serious for them. “I must ask the Minister to review the position of those receiving less than £1 a week,” said Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Govt., Rotorua). Anyone receiving that amount was in need of help himself. The proposal was unreasonable, and he must ask the Minister to reconsider the clause. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, said the tax of a shilling in the pound represented an increase of 300 per cent. It would be n real hardship on all receiving very low wages. Mr. Fraser’s amendment was lost by 35 votes to 26. Salaries Below a Pound. Mr. Wilkinson then moved his amendment not to apply the charge to salaries of less than £l. If the Bill went through in its present form a manifest injustice would be perpetrated, he said. Mr. Coates said the Unemployment Board had power to exempt from the payment of the charge. Nevertheless he was prepared to consider the question. Under present circumstances it was up to (hose in work to provide for those out of work. He was prepared to see if some method could be devised to exempt those on the very low wages. Mr. Semple: Why not accept the amendment? Mr. Coates: No, I can’t do that. Mr. Semple: It is only a pound. Mr. Coates: I can’t accept the amendment. I will consider an amendment to exempt the low-paid wage-earners. Mr. Wilkinson said he intended to take the amendment to a division. He was not satisfied with the Minister’s assurance. Many members of the Coalition would find difficulty in supporting the Government on such a proposal and there was a possibility of it receiving an unfavourable vote. Vote of No-confidence. “This will definitely be a no-confidence vote, because the hon. member is forcing the situation,” said Mr. Coates with some heat. "I gave my word I woqld do a certain thing, and I expected it to be accepted, but the member for Egmont will not do that.” Mr. Clinkard: I have accepted it. Mr. Coates: I don’t like my word bandied around as the member for Egmont has done. Why he should bring in his party spleen I don’t know. I am anxious to try and do something to meet the position. The division on Mr. Wilkinson’s amendment resulted in its defeat by 38 votes to 24. Mr. J. McCombs (Lab., Lyttelton) suggested that a penny should be collected in every 1/8. A boy earning 5/- would pay 2d., but if he garned 5/1, he would have to pay a charge of 6d. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Lab., Manukau) sought to exempt any person receiving less than £2O for the year ended March 31 last from the payment, of the emergency unemployment charge. The proposal was rejected by 40 votes to 24. Mr. McCombs moved to add a new subclause providing that women should not be liable to pay the wages tax unless definite provision was made for the payment of sustenance or adequate wages to unemployed women. The House declined to accept the clause by 38 votes to 24. An amendment to exempt blind women in institutions from the payment of the emergency charge was moved by Mr. F. W. Schramm (Lab., Auckland East), but this was also defeated. Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) : Surely it is not (on much to ask for the exemption of the blind. Mr. Coates said there were cases of blind people in institutions with quite good incomes. The board had authority to grant exemptions. Mr. Fraser and Mr. Parry said that exemption should also be extended to blind men. Mr. Contes said there had only been abniit two complaints from the blind in respect of the payment of the charge. It had been extraordinary how the people had paid up. Generosity Overtaxed. Mr. Semple: You can overtax their generosity. Mr. Coates: 1 quite agree. Mr. Jordan suggested the difficulty could be got over b.v exempting those in receipt of blind pensions. If that were done the blind with incomes would not escape the charge. On Behalf of Mr. 11. M. Rushworth (C. Bay of Islands). Mr. 11. Atmore (Ind.. Nelson) moved that primary producers in receipt of less revenue than £52 per annum be exempted from liability to pay the emergency charge. The amendment was ■lost on the voices. It was pointed out b.v Mr. Barnard that the Bill gave the Unemployment Board authority to purchase food, clothing and other necessities, hut that there was no provision for the payment of rent. Mr. Coates: There is power to pay rent. Mr. Barnard : I would be glad for you to point it out to me. Mr. Coales: Other necessities covers lire position. Mr. Barnard suggested that the word

rent should be included in the Bill bo that the matter could be placed beyond doubt. Why not make the position specific? If it were the intention of the clause that it should provide for the payment of rent it was very badly drawn. Mr. Semple said that if rents were to be paid the clause should definitely say so, and the Leader of the Opposition contended that nothing would be lost by agreeing to Mr. Barnard’s suggestion. , , • Mr. Coates said he had no doubt in his own mind that the legislation provided for the payment of rent. Mr. Barry moved the addition of a new sub-clause to provide for the payment of sustenance to unemployed women. Ihe clause was defeated by 39 votes to 23. An unsuccessful effort was made by Mr. H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson) to exempt women from the emergency tax unless a definite scheme for the relief of unemployed women and girls were established and maintained by the Unemployment Board. The voting was 36 to 24. Mr. Holland moved an amendment to provide that every person employed under the legislation should receive payment for each day worked. The Government expected men on relief works to work two days for no pay whatever. If a man were required to work two days he should get two days’ pay; similarly he should get four days’ pay for four days’ work. The amendment was lost by 38 to 24. The committee stages of the Bill were completed at 7.20 a.m. Mr. McCombs was the only speaker on the third residing. and the Bill was passed at 7.3.> a.m. Z RELIEF WORKERS Cost of Transportation LOCAL BODIES’ ONUS Endeavours are at present being made by the Unemployment Board to persuade local authorities to pay the cost of transporting relief workers to and from jobs from which these local authorities are deriving direct benefit. The Minister m Charge of Unemployment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, replying to a question raised b.v Mr. F. Jones (Lab., Dunedin South)_, when the House resumed yesterday afternoon, said the board considered this was a local responsibility. Mr. Jones asked the Minister if he would instruct the various unemployment committees to pay the cost of transport of unemployed workers on relief jobs, because many of them had to travel long distances, paying in. some cases lOd a day in fares, and on wet'days being doubly penalised—having to pay fares without receiving any pay. Mr. Coates said he was willing to help, but he was afraid no general undertaking could be given that the committee in Dunedin would bear the cost. The local authorities were now being asked to bear this cost, a request which was considered to be quite a reasonable one, because the board itself had to pay transport costs in the past. Mr. Jones: The men are paying it now. Mr. Coates: Every effort is being made to get the local, authorities to realise their responsibilities, because the work will be of ultimate benefit to them. SEAMEN ON RELIEF May Miss Chance of Ship BOARD TO CO-OPERATE The position of seamen who are compelled to accept relief work in rural districts while awaiting, a call for work on their ships, was raised in the House ot Representatives yesterday, when the Minister in Charge of Unemployment, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said every effort was being made to co-operate with the Seamen’s Union and the shipping companies to see that men who had to leave the waterfront while waiting for work m their own line should not miss the opportunity when their turn. came. Mr. Coates was replying to a question raised by Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon), about returned soldiers haying to leave the city for relief work, and he was explaining that in the plans the Unemployment Board was now devising, the single men would have to leave the city for work. Mr. I*. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central), then raised the point of unemployed seamen, and he asked the Minister if it could be arranged that seamen who were likely to be called upon for positions should be allowed to take relief work in pr near the city, so that when their time came to line up on the wharf their opportunity should not be lost. The Minister said this difficulty was a real one, and the secretary of the Seamen’s Union had gone thoroughly into it with him. The board was trying as far. as possible to keep these men close to their ports, but this had not been practicable in every case. It was hoped, however, that the shipping companies and the Seamen’s Union would make an arrangement under which men who were known to be waiting for work would be available at the relief camps without the necessity of. having to line up at the wharf. Tn this move the board would co-operate. MR. KYLE’S COMPLAINT Member Who Did Not Rise Complaint that Mr. J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) had failed to rise in acknowledgment. of the receipt of a message from the Governor-General was made by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Govt., Riccarton) immediately after the National Expenditure ’Adjustment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives last evening. “Point of order.” called Mr. Kyle. "I want to draw attention to a breach of Standing Order 423 committed bv the member for Grev Lynn. That standing order states: ‘When Mr. Speaker announces the receipt of a message or messages from his Excellency the GovernorGeneral members shall rise in their places in acknowledgment thereof and shall remain uncovered during the reading of such message nr messages.’ ” Mr. Speaker asked Mr. Lee whether he rose. Mr. Lee: I did not rise. I was attending tn something on my desk at the time and I was on my wav tin when the others’ wore on their way down. Mr Sneaker: I think 1 have only tn draw the honourable member’s attention to the matter. There were several protests from. Labour members at the alleged triviality of Mr. Kyle’s action, but the Speaker called for order mid the incident