PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1931, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THE HOUSE. (By Tclcyraph—Per Press ,4 ssocia tion) WELLINGTON, March 25. In the House of Representatives yesterday, the debate on the short title of the Finance Bill was continued when the sitting was resumed at 2.30 p.m. and was still in progress when the 'Pc.legr.uph Office closed at 2 a.in. There was a change of scene in the early pail of the evening when the Leader of the Opposition rose and 'urged members to allow progress to be made with the debate. He suggested that the Prime Minister should consider making a concession reducing t-lie cut by two and n-lialf per cent, with respect to each child, and the case of married civil servants. It should be possible to insert a proviso so that when it was shown that, the cost of living bad fallen ten per cent., the cut could apply throughout' the ser-

vice. i Air Forbes thanked the Leader of the Opposition for the suggestion that . progress should he made with the ; Bill. He considered that .leahour mem. hers had made it perfectly plain that they were opposed to the Bill, nock stock and barrel, and in view of the fact that the present was an emergency session, (Ivey should not hold the matter up further, but allow it to go to the vote. Speaking later, Mr Forbes said he was prepared to get nay cases of hardship in the Civil Service hv setting up a Hardship Commission. Lie could not consider the question of graduation of the cut on the ground that if did not give him the money required. The short title of flic Finance Bill was still under consideration when the House of Representatives adjourned at seven o’clock this morning, after its second all night sitting in Committee. 'Lite discussion of the short title itself occupied fourteen and a-half sitting hours, and there is now an amendment before the Committee seeking to ' amend the title to “Salary and Wage Reduction Act.” Labour members debated amendment without incident till the Chairman detailed a number of points as out of order, on the ground of tedious repetition. Mr Fraser moved as n protest against tin* ruling that the* Chairman should leave l the chair. The motion was defeated by 41 to 20. Mr H. E. Holland asked that the Speaker’s advice he taken on the ruling. and when a division was called for, there was comments from the Labour benches’ of such a nature ns“afraid of the Speaker's ruling,”' “lot of cowards.” After the bell bad been rung the motion was adopted on the voices. 'Phe Speaker ruled the Chairman was the sole judge of wli.-it constituted a tedious repetition. The .debate was continued without furt-lior incident till 5.50 when Air, Miniro rose to speak and was repeatedly checked by nhe Chairman, on the grounds of repetition. Mr Minim protested and said lie was willing to be’nniiiod. but,eventually lie resumed ' ■ Mr Armstrong under similar cirsiimstames adopted'a similar attitude, but finally resumed his seat at the request of his colleagues. Mr Fraser then asked the Chairman if lie would accept, a motion that the Committee had no confidence in the Chairman. Mr Bodkin refused to do so. The House adjourned til! 9 n.m.

TO-DAY’S SITTING. WELI.(TNGTON, March 25. Mr Lnngstone’s amendment to amend the short title of the Finance Bill was rejected immediately the Mouse resumed at. nine Ibis morning by 28 to 18. Mr McKeon thereupon moved to amend the title to “Finance end Rubin Expemlituro Adjustment Act.” The amendment was seconded by M' Fraser, and the (lel)ate is being eontinned bv Labour members.