FEDERAL POWERS BILL

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1944, Page 2

FEDERAL POWERS BILL

ANGRY SCENE IN SENATE.

(Rec. 12.25) CANBERRA, March 23. The Wider Powers Bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives, was passed in its committee stages this morning by the Senate, after an all-night sitting. Senator Crawford (U.A.P., Queensland) voted with the Government, thus giving it a majority of 19 to 17. It is now almost certain that the Bill will be finally passed by the Senate to-day. An angry scene occurred in the Senate last night when the Opposition moved an adjournment of the debate on the Bill. Senator Crawford voted with the Government to defeat this motion, and the Senate decided to sit all night. After the division, the Opposition Leader (Senator McLeay) spoke to Senator Crawford, who shouted: “I will please myself. You mind your own business!” Later, Senator McLeay announced that Senator Crawford was no longer a member of the U.A.P. The second reading of the Income Tax Assessment Bill was carried in the House of Representatives this morning after the House by 40 votes to 14 had rejected an amendment that the Bill be withdrawn and redrafted to eliminate “an additional burden ol 25 per cent, of taxation by requiring taxpayers to pay, in addition to the current year’s tax, a further levy of 25 per cent, based on incomes earned in 1943-44.” During the debate, two Independ-, ents/ Messrs. Spender and Cores, supported the Government’s proposal for a 25 per cent, surcharge as part of the pay-as-you-earn plan.