CUSTOMS BILL PASSED

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 222, 15 August 1930, Page 2

CUSTOMS BILL PASSED

PETROL TAX PROPOSAL AMENDED PREMIER YIELDS TO PRESSURE DELIBERATE OBSTRUCTION ALLEGED Important progress was made in tlie House of Representatives yesterday, the Customs Amendment Bill being put through all stages and passed. Noteworthy features of the proceedings were the defeat of an amendment to make the total petrol tax 5d per gallon instead of Td, and the carrying of an amendment by tlie Prime Minister, after pressure by the Opposition, making the total tax Gd.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. CUSTOMS BILL DEBATE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 14. When the House of Representatives resumed this afternoon, the Prime Minister, Hon. G. W. Forbes said since the House rose he had been going into the matter of the petrol tax. Realising that there was a strong feeling as to the amount that was being added he was quite prepared to meet the House by making tlie extra duty 2d instead of 3d per gallon. “In doing this,” said Mr Forbes, “I want to say that that is the full extent to which the Government will go in the matter.” It had been stated by Opposition members that the petrol tax was a policy matter on which they should stand or fall and lie thought there was a good deal in what had been said. It was a matter in which the Government was deeply concerned. He did not wish the Government or himself to remain under any charge of a breach of faith. When the amendment before the House reducing the tax to sd, moved by Mr It. A. Wright, was disposed of he intended to move a reduction in the tax from 7d to 6d. “What about the backblock roads?” Mr Forbes said that he would endeavour to make extra provision for backblock roads through the Public Works fund. OBSTRUCTION ALLEGED. Continuing, the Prime Minister said that during the progress of the debate on the Bill he had tried to exercise as much patience as he could as Leader of the House, but after the adjournment this morning lie had felt lie was not getting that assistance for facilitating the bn iness of the House which he had been ied to expect. Mr Forbes referred to the lengthy discussion on the introduction of the Bill which had lasted nine hours and also to the protracted proceedings yesterday. It seemed to him to bo obstruction that was deliberate and arranged. REFORM PARTY BLAMED. At last night’s sitting he had been' obliged to listen to cheap sneers from members of the Reform Party in regard to his trip to the Imperial Conference. It was no desire of liis to go to the Imperial Conference in circumstances like these. He had agreed to go recognising the importance of the conference, but he did not desire as Prime Minister to leave the country in the difficult financial position it was in at present. He had been told that lie could expect assistance from the Leader of the Opposition, but he thought lie had a right to complain. He had nothing to say about the leader of the Labour The challenge had been made this morning that the Government was running away from its responsibilities and was not prepared to stand behind its legislation. “I felt that I could not retain my self-respect and that I could not go to the conference in circumstances like those,” said Mr Forbes. “I have therefore given orders for the suspension or arrangements for my departure until such time as the financial measures I am responsible for and which I think are in the best interests of the people have been passed.” MR COATES’S DENIAL. The Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said that he had been surprised at the speech just made by the leader of the House and it had been difficult to understand the reason for the attitude of the Prime Minister. Ho defied the Prime Minister to say that anything had been done to prevent him from going to the Imperial Conference. If he looked up the records he would find that more members of the Labour Party had spoken than Reformers. It was obvious that tlie Prime Minister had not given careful thought to his words. Mr Coates said that every amendment moved had been the result of the definite opinions of members of the House. Every member had a right to speak on such an important Bill. Ho. himself did not speak until the schedule had come down. I he proposals brought forward by the Prime Minister were far-reaching and very important and the 1 rune Mmister himself knew that the Customs Bills in the past had taken as long as two weeks. This was a small Bill but it covered practically the whole ot the Coates said he could only characterise the Prime Minister’s remarks as uncalled for. It was the right or every party and every member to express definite opinions. There had been neither obstruction nor repetition. The Government had placed its policy before the House. It was an important policy, which was designed to alter the previous policy. . He would aske the Prime Minister whether he would consider the points he was now about to raise. A subsidy on rates had been paid for the last 30 years. The burden of the petrol tax would be a severe one and he asked that where it was found that a ratepayer was paying far more than he was justly entitled to would . the Prime Minister consider giving him some form of relief P He knew that the Government could not have legislation to this effect ready to-day, but ho asked that such a poiicy be given consideration. This idea seemed more reasonable and much fairer. LABOUR LEADER’S OPINION. Tlie leader of the Labour Party, Mr H E Holland, said ho was much concerned about the position as there was a point of honour involved. He personally thought the Prime Minister had some reason to complain, bo tar as the Labour Party was concerned a definite assurance had been given that it would be possible for him to attend the Imperial Conference, and that promise would be kept. Already four days of the fortnight had gone and only the first item of the legislative programme had yet been considered at all. He suggested that the three parties should come together in an effort to arrive at

a businesslike arrangement. Ho could promise the Prime Minister on behalf of the Labour Party that while members reserved the right to criticise clauses and move amendments they would do everything to get the Bill through expeditiously. The debate on Mr Wright’s amendment was then continued. Reference to a statement made in the House on Wednesday night was made by Mr J. G. Coates, who said he wanted it made perfectly clear that neither ho nor his party advocated nationalisation of distribution or in any other form, although a misunderstanding had been created by a remark passed in the house. THE TAX ON ROAD USERS. The Prime Minister, replying to the speeches, said he preferred that money for roading the backblocks should be paid out of ordinary revenue instead of from the Public Works funds, which were borrowed money. In regard to the proposed reduction in the petrol tax ho said the companies were at present absorbing one penny of the increase. There was no guarantee that they would continue to carry this share if the reduction were adopted by the House, but he thought they would be wise if they did. There had, he continued, been numerous references during the debate to the price of petrol to consumers compared with the cost of landing it here and he felt tlie country should have full information on the subject. He would undertake to have an investigation made during the recess. In reply to other points raised Mr Forbes said he might have to make some adjustments in the matter of other taxes to compensate for the los§ of revenue involved in the proposed reduction of tho additional petrol tax to 2d. Mr Wright’s amendment to reduce tho petrol tax to 5d was then put to the vote and was defeated. The division list was: For tho Amendment (17). Ansell Linklatcr Barnard McKccn Burnett Mason Dickie . Nash, J. A. Endcan Svkcs Fletcher Wilkinson Harris Wright Jones Young Ivylo Against (53). Armstrong Lysnar Atmore McCombs Bitchencr McDonald Black McDougall Broadfoot Macmillan Campbell Macpherson Carr Makitanara Chapman Massey Clinkard Munna Coates Munro Cobbo Murdoch dc la Pcrrclle Nash, W. Donald Ngata Field Parry Forbes Ransom Fraser Samuel Hall Savago Hamilton Semplo Hawko Smith Healy Stallworthy Hogan Stewart Holland, 11. E. Sullivan Howard Taverner Hunter Veitch Jordan Waite Langstono Williams Lye PREMIER’S MOTION CARRIED. The Prime Minister then moved that the total petrol tax should bo sixpence and this was adopted. The division list was: — For the Amendment (46). Atmore McCoombs Bitchener MacDonald Black McDougall Broadfoot MacPherson Campbell Makitanara Carr Massoy Chapman Munns Clinkard Munro Coates Murdoch Cobbe Nash W. de la Perrelle Ngata Donald Parry Field Ransom Forbes Sr.muel Fraser Savage Hawko Smith Healy Stallworthy Holland, 11. E. Stewart Howard Sullivan Hunter Sykes Jordan Taverner Langstone Veitch Lyo William* Against tho Amendment (25). Ansell Kyle Armstrong Linklater Barnard Lysnar Burnett McKeen Dickie Macmillan Endcan Mason Fletcher Nash, J. A. Hall Semple Hamilton Waite Harris Wilkinson Hogan Wright Holland, H. Young Jones Following this tho Prime Minister moved an amendment that oils in vessels having a capacity of less than one gallon should pay a duty of 20 per cent ad valorem of 6d a gallon whichever returned the higher duty. This was agreed to on the voices, Mr Forbes pointing out that the amendment was necessary in order to secure uniformity. Tho Bill was then put through tire Committee stage without further amendment. MEASURE PASSED. After a brief debate the Customs Act Amendment Bill was then read a third time and passed. Replying to Mr Coates the Prime Minister intimated that tho Defence Bill would be considered to-morrow, Tho Finance Bill would be introduced on Monday and would be followed by the Land and Income Tax Amendment and Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill. Mr Forbes said he would be pleased to accept tho suggestion of Mr H. E. Holland that an endeavour should be made to allot a definite amount of business for transaction each day in order to ensure all the necessary measures being passed prior to his departure for the Conference. The House rose at 6 p.m. till . 2.30 to-morrow. I