BUDGET NIGHT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 213, 4 June 1943, Page 4

BUDGET NIGHT

Unusually Large Crowd

In Galleries DEBATE TO BEGIN NEXT TUESDAY Unusually keen interest was shown in the presentation of the Budget in the House of Representatives last night, there being a large attendance of the public. When the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, rose to read the Financial Statement, very few seats in the galleries were vacant. In recent years since the proceedings of the House have been broadcast the attendances even on Budget nights have been relatively small. On this occasion, however, interest was quickened by the facts that this is expected to be election year and that the deferment of the Budget from Inst week had stimulated speculation about its contents. A few minutes after the House resumed at 7.30 p.m., Mr. Nash commenced to read his Statement, which occupied 90 minutes. Its closing stages were interrupted by the one minute’s silence at 9 P-m. There were a few interjections from the Opposition benches as members sought to prompt the Minister to give additional information on several points. To Mr. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) the Minister .suggested that he raise his questions on the reciprocal lend-lease in the course of the debate. Government members occasionally exclaimed “Hear, hear.” and were approvingly vocal when Mr. Nash announced that the State was to accept the onus of proof in connexion with war disablement pensions. In fact, chief interest in the statement appeared to be in the pension proposals. When Mr. Nash concluded his statement. there was a round of applause in which some of the Opposition members joined and the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, shook hands with him as he sat down. The House rose at 9.10 after the Prime Minister had stated that it would resume today at 10.30, when discussion would be taken on the External Affairs Bill and the Island Territories Bill, and that the Budget debate would begin on Tuesday. . The -Statement is reported on Page b.