HOT DEBATE IN HOUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 152, 24 December 1926, Page 7

HOT DEBATE IN HOUSE

GOVERNMENT DENOUNCED.

SYDNEY, 23rd December

The Government proposal to ta:t newspapers was the subject of a lengthy and hot debate in tne Assembly to-day. Member after member of the Opposition tho Bill in unmeasured terms. "Disgraceful," "damnable;" "iniquitous," "extraordinary," and "retrograde" were a few of the expressions used.

Mr. Loughlin added liis voice to the denunciation of tho measure. He doclared that his attitude was.tlio samo as when he left the Government, and he would continue to maintain that attitude.

The Government had intended to close thj debate at noon, but for some reason allowed it to continue.

An Opposition member, Mr. Sanders, thinking that he would find the Government napping, moved tho previous question, but this was negatived by.44 votes to 41, and the debato was resumed.

Mr. Chaffey moved an amendment for exemption of" the first 10,000 of any publication from tho tax. Tl|j Premier (Mr. Lang) offered, if Mr. Chaffey withdrew his amendment, that he would substitute an amendment providing for a 15,000 exemption, instead of 10,000, as now provided in the Bill, as the limit of publication where the tax would become operative. Mr. 'Chaffey pointed out that this offer of the Premier Vwould have the effect of making papew publishing over 15,000 copies pay on their whole isisue. He arid other Oppositionists claimed that the Bill was aimed at metropolitan papers which opposed the Government, and, therefore, he declined to accept the Premier's amendment.

After further discussion, in which Mr. Scott Pell prophesied that the Bill would sound ■ the death-knell of the Labour Party, and a member suggested a halfpenny glass tax, Mr. Chaffey >s amendment was negatived by 45 votes to 41.

Mr. Scully, moved an amendment for the substitution of 15,000 copies as the exemption limit, in place of 10,000 in the original motion.

Mr. Bavin protested, but did not press for a division, and the amendment was carried on the voices. Mr. Davidson moved the exemption from the tax of all newspapers the price of which is 3d or over.

The Opposition entered a strong protest, declaring that the Government's action was scandalous and contemptible. t

Mr. ■ Arkins, for using a strong expletive, was removed from the Chamber by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Davidson's motion was carried by 45 votes to 40, and the Bill as amended was rusted through the remaining stages.

In tho course of the proceedings Mr. Lang informed the House ho did not intend to succumb to the importunities of the Press, or oblige his political friends opposite by relieving them of his very necessary presence here by paying a visit to London yet awhile. A deputation representing certain weekly papers asked Mr. Lang to oxompt the weekly and periodical Press from the tax. Mr. Lang replied that he had introduced the tax because he required revenue, but if tho deputation could submit an acceptable alternative he would grant tho exemption asked for. The deputation subsequently placed' its views before the Treasury.