CAPE PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 31 January 1946, Page 3

CAPE PARLIAMENT

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION DEFEATED. CAPETOWN, January 29. The South African Parliament defeated by 83 votes to 43 a motion of no confidence in the Smuts Government, after a sitting lasting 27 hours —the second longest in the history of the South African Parliament. Dr. Malan (Nationalist) introduced the debate on the motion, which lasted six days. The Nationalists voted with the Government,- rejecting by 123 votes to 11 a Labour Party amendment urging the abolition of the profit system. The Labour Party did not vote on the no-confidence motion.

The Dominion Party did not vote on either occasion.

Mr J. H. Hofmeyer (F’nance Minister), said it was proposed to adjust the Government war-time taxation system to the changed circumstances. The Government had been criticised for not making the change earlier, but it was forgotten that in countries such as Britain and America, income tax charges, including excess profits tax, were effective only from January 1, or April 1,194 G, whereas the changes made in South Africa would be effective from July 1, 1945.