DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 38, 15 February 1933, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

DISCUSSION ON SALES TAX

A long legislative journey was commenced in the Houseof Representatives yesterday, when a start was made with the second reading debate on the Sales Tax Bill, which, next to the exchange issue, promises to bo the most controversial subject of the '■ session. The debate was initiated by the Minister of Finance ' (the Rt. Hon J. G. Coates), who defended the tax as bejng the most reasonable available to the Government under the present circumstances. "Mr. Coates spent some time in giying a detailed explanation of'the yarious clauses in the measure and concluded, -by announcing further exemptions. Books and eggs are now to bo exempt from the payment of the tax;/.;;. -'//.v,;://;.'.-v-..: /-.;. .- 'Mr.-Coates'was - followed by the Leaderof the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland), who eloquently stated Labour's opposition to the fresh impost. Interest" was;added to Mr. Holland's speechby virtue of the fact that he made "several historical references to the operation of the tax in other parts of the world: . The Prime.Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) replied to Mr. Holland, and took advantage of the opportunity of saying what he thought about Labour's general attitude towards the. Government's efforts to straighten but New Zealand's finances. , Some lesser lights in the political firmament followed, and the debate was going strongly when the House adjourned at 11.15 p.m. In the afternoon the House finally disposed of tho Small (Farms (Relief of Unemployment) Bill,'with some important amendments.