ANGRY EXCITEMENT SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 62, 9 February 1933, Page 8

ANGRY EXCITEMENT

SCENE IN THE HOUSE.

ATTEAIPT TO BLOCK AIINISTER

(By Telegraph. —Special to Standard.)

AYELLINGTON, Feb. 8. Scenes of angry excitement were witnessed during the early stages of the introduction of the Customs and Excise taxation in the House to-night, Air S. G. Smith, Chairman of Committees, being unable to repress Labour members’ interjections and hostile comment.

An attempt was made by an appeal to the standing orders to prevent Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Finance, reading his full explanation, but this failed. Immediately the general effect of the resolutions became known, Air H. E. Holland. Leader of the Opposition, protested that they showed the Government was determined to go from bad to worse. It had deliberately loaded up charges through the high exchange against the masses of the people and now proposed to levy additional Customs and Excise duties which must increase further the cost of living. On top of the Customs taxation was a sales tax. Air AY. E. Parry: They ought to include their resignation; the decent thing to do. Air Holland: They are making the sales tax 100 per cent, higher than in Australia.

The Leader of the Opposition declared that all this would save the large landowner from paying the graduated land tax which he ought to pa.y, and he agreed with Air Parry that the decent thing to do was for the Government to get out of office. Air Semple: They are too cowardly to go. (Opposition “Hear 1 Hears.”) The Chairman: It is not in order to make such interjections. Air -Holland: I take it there is no objection on the part of the Chairman to expressions of approval. The Chairman: The lion, gentleman is entitled to proceed without interruption. Air Holland: I submit that any member is entitled to express orderly approval of sentiments. Air Semple: Hear! hear. AA T e won’t be gagged. The Chairman: The standing orders provide for members being heard without interruption. Air Parry: AA e could hear him all right. Air Holland proceeded to suggest that the Government- surely could have devised better methods of taxation, and he put it to them that the alternative was a steeply graduated income tax, but it preferred to get it from the exceedinglv small incomes of the people. Nobody would have dreamed that' a sales tax would come down in a Customs Bill.

Air Forbes: There is to be a separate Bill.

Air Holland retorted that the Government would proceed to collect the tax at once, but the Government might keep the Bill hanging fire a month. “After all this betrayal of the people,” he concluded, “the Government should, in common decency, resign from office and let somebody else take on the job of running the country. If it came to an appeal to the people they would never endorse the extraordinary, astounding proposals in these resolutions. (Loud applause from the Opposition.) Air Coates, in his capacity of Minister of Customs, took the opportunity, while the resolutions were before the Committee, of presenting a full explanation. He was immediately held up on a point of order raised by Air J. AlcCombs, who submitted that it was against the standing orders for a Minister to read his speech. The Chairman ruled that the Minister could read a statement, but Air AlcGombs declared that it was not a Alinisterial statement but a controversial explanation. The- Prime Aiinister protested that the ordinary course was followed of presenting a considered statement when the important resolutions were brought in so that the House could have correct information. The Chairman : The Aiinister is entitled to read a statement. Air AlcCombs: AVill he tell us who wrote it P Air Coates: I will be be glad to oblige the lion, gentleman, who does not intend to be offensive. He never do°s The course 1 am following is usual. It has been prepared by the Customs Department and myselt in collaboration. If the Committee does not desire to hear the statement 1 don’t mind. It will all appear in tomorrow’s papers. , . Air AY. J. Poison: AVe want the information. , ~ , , Air Coates was then able to complete his statement, after which Opposition speakers in succession made the strongest possible protests against the new taxation.