THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 6

THE DAY IN PARLIAMENT

With tho exception of one clause which was postponed for further consideration, tho Unemployment Amendment Bill survived all amendments during tho Committee stage at yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives. ;Very little progress was niade until well ou in the evening. Tho clauso dealing with the payment of the general levy and the wages tax induced a flood of talk, and the Labour members kept the division bolls ringing on amendments designed to secure exemption from taxation for-lower-paid workers, including men. on relief jobs". A Dutch auction process was and as progressively lower salary scales were dealt with additional .supporters accompanied tho Labour Party into the division lobbies. A close division occurred on a proposal ,to 'exempt income of £52 a year crimed jointly by husband and wife. Six Reform members supported the amendment. Strong pressure was brought to, bear on the Government when the clause proposing the imposition of the general levy on relief workers was reached, and at last the Prime Minister agreed to hold1, that part of,, the Bill over so. that possibilities of making up the consequent deficiency in ,the fund could be, explored. A good deal of controversy arose over tho principlo of taxing women when no definite provision was made for giving them assistance, and a Labour attempt to amend the clauso to ensure that women woulfl receive t;he, same benefits as men was defeated. Progress became ' moro rapid after midnight, when the reconstitution of the'Uflemiployinent Board found some - objectors. [Labour endeavoured to make the board an elective body, ■ but, again . without Buecessl Other clauses were contested i without result. Finally,' the closest] division of all was recorded on a pro- ' posal to give single persons with de-| pendants the same relief privileges as> married persons with a similar number of dependants. This was lost liy 33 ■ votes to 30. Progress was reported on the Bill at 2.45 a.m., and the House adjourned until this morning.