DAY IN PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT

ANNUAL TAXING BILL

Excluding" a minor incident for which Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) was responsible, yesterday's proceedings in the House of Representatives were—to put' it charitably—very sedate and very orderly. As a matter of fact there were times when the debate became inexpressibly dull, and for a fair part of the afternoon it was somewhat difficult to get a quorum of twenty members together in the Chamber at the one time. Even those who did remain in occupation of their benches took for the most part a passive interest in what was going on, and were more concerned with their own particular affairs. . Mr. Bodkin and the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) figured in a brief bout when the member for Central Otago started to , talk emphatically about how capital was fleeing the country. Mr. Nash rose to a point of order, and told the House that every pound could be accounted for. The question of banking was elaborated with some purpose and plenty of detail by Mr. Bodkin, and, indeed, again figured largely in the general discussion, the Hon. J. G: Cobbe (National, Oroua) making much capital of it. The argument that Socialism was the only safeguard against Communism was, advanced by the Rev. C. Carr (Government, Timaru), who pointed out that it was a question of social organisation versus social anarchy, and a new line was introduced by Mr. J. A. Roy (National, Clutha), who spoke about the freedom of worship. Shortly before the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. 011 Tuesday, the annual taxing .-.Bill, prescribing the rates of land and income tax for the current year" was introduced. Following the indication given in the Budget, there is no alteration in any class of taxation. 1