GOVERNMENT BLUDGEONING WAY THROUGH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 145, 4 June 1936, Page 9

GOVERNMENT BLUDGEONING WAY THROUGH

Pure Dictatorship

DOCILE FOLLOWING

Ir. Coates Speaks Out On Supply Bill

UNPRECEDENTED STEP

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 3.

The Imprest Supply Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to-night, urgency being accorded its passage. The Bill said the Prime Munster, the Bt. Horn M J. Savage, provided for the taking of supply amounting to £3.806,500 for three mouths. The Bt Hon. J. G. Coates protested against supply being taken for three months. He said it was the first time in his memory that supply had been asked for three months. He was astounded. He said that the Government was certainly making history.

M t Savage: Hear, hear) Mr Coates: It is history, right i uough* As far aa he could remember it was the most unusual procedure that had et been adopted in this country. The ■upply asked for would carry the Gov rnment on to September 3. Was that tting the cat out of the bag? Would he Budget not be ready The Hon. P. Fraser: The lion, gentlean knows very well that the Estiiates would not be through by Sepember 3. Mr Coatee: That means nothing at .11. The Bill would be continued, said Mr Coates. It meant that every member of the House was being quieted pushed aside and that the Govern meat was being given a free hand for three months. Mr F. Schramm (Govt., Auckland East): What are you worrying about? Mr Coates: Our wings are being liji-ped and clipped, and with a docile, inert following the Government is just bludgeoning its way through.

Members on the Government side ot the House, said Mr Coates, were being cuietly bulldosed, and their privileges tiere being forfeited. In his opinion it was the first time that supply for three months had been taken. It was dictatorship purely and simply..

The Minister of Finance, the Hon. \V. Nash, said that the House would adjourn next week and it was likely to meet again before the end of July. The Government had to have supply up to the end of August, and authority was taken to expend £B,OOO/100 on public works and other charges that would Lave to be met. The Government was following the old procedure exactly. There was nptbing new whatever. If the House did not meet till late August there might be a possibility that the Government would have no money. Mr Coates knew that very well. He was only putting up a sham light for the sake of something to say. Mr 8. G. Smith (Nat., New Plymouth) added his protest He said that

he Minister could not point to any rceedent in the last 20 years. New j embers of the House did not realise he purport of the measure. Did the

Minister realise that there was a limit to the capacity of the people to pay! He said that the Government had uoi given effect to its election pledges. It Lad been said that a measure provid ing for the restoration of wages would be brought down this session. Mr Savage: It will come down this session. That promise will be kept.

Mr Fraser said that the Government would carry out the programme it had outlined at the election, but it would do it how, when and where the Government itself decided. He would like to know where the Opposition stood in regard to the development policy. They could not attack and oppose the Go vernment for the steps it was taking tc restore prosperity to the Dominion and then condemn it for doing nothing. He claimed that there had been a reduction in the unemployment figures since the change of Government.

Mr W. P. Endean (Nat., Parnell; urged that greater provision should be made for the defence of New Zealand He thought that greater provision should be made for the Air Force.

After 2 a.m. the Bill was put through committee after a brief discussion and was read the third time and passed. The House rose at 2.5 a.m.