END OF STONEWALL

Northern Advocate, 25 October 1929, Page 4

END OF STONEWALL

The “stonewall” set, up in the House of Representatives has ended, the Leader of the Government and the Leader of the Opposition having reached a compromise during a private discussion of the situation. The Government agreed to make an important alteration in the Land and Income Tax Amendment Bill. This alteration affects the hardship clause, the provisions of which have now been made applicable to hardship arising from any cause. The amended clause was passed. This disposed of a vital objection to the bill, winch is now assured of passing through all stages. The combined agreement reached by the leaders' will be welcomed, for the “stonewall” debate was rapidly degenerating, and incidents of a. regrettable nature would almost certainly have accurred. Scenes which did not reflect credit on Parliament had already taken place. For these all parties must be held responsible. The Reform Party may be able to claim that the end justified the means adopted by it in holding up the passage of the bill, but the fact that a conference achieved what contention failed to do provides still further proof of the folly of party politics.