PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20827, 20 March 1931, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

TfiE FINANCE BILL.

debate still proceeds.

! LATITUDE FOR MEMBERS.

/ pkqspects of measure.

'STUBBORN FIGHT LIKELY.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. Realising that Parliament is entitled to

run with a loose rein during the second / reading debate of the Finance Bill, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forces, took no steps to-day to force the pace and 011 present indications urgency ' will not bo applied for unless it becomes apparent that forces opposed to the measure are obviously resorting to stonewalling. The view apparently taken by Mr. Forbes is that the bill, which clears the way for the wage reduction proposals, is one on which a reasonable opportunity for wide discussion must bo allowed, for the

question is one on which the party / leadm cannot bo wholly sure they are expressing a unanimous party attitude. Already Mr. G. C. Black (Government— Motueka) hai stated that he will not vote ( for the bill, and it is known that one or two other back-bench Government members are apprehensive lest their vote' for the bill will earn the displeasuro of their constituents. " < The shadow of the general election is beginning to deepen, and Mr. Forbes may find difficulty in holding all his team. Possibly he will have to bring some back to the realisation that the question is one of confidence, and that there is no room for wavering loyalists. Gathering ol Votes. 1 It would be idle to pretend also that j Ihe question is one which has not called for deep thought among members of the Reform Party, but Mr. Coates said in his epeech yesterday he believed ho could epeak for the party in the views he expressed on the Government's proposals. In the recent divisions, Labour strained every endeavour to record every vote, j fctid when the crucial division is reached j: j on the Finance Bill it is probable that 'several stray votes will be gathered in. ! (Besides Mr. Black, Mr. Wilkinson, the I unofficial leader of the Independents, has, j stated he will vote against the bill on ' the principle that ho believes it involves the breaking of industrial contracts. While there is no reason yet to doubt the ability Of the Government to place the bill on the Statute Book, the fight will be stubbornly waged and long sittings in committee are certain and amendments ! are then expected to be plentiful. Reform is suggesting a tribunal to rectify any injustices that the 10 per cent, cut may inflict in the Civil Service, and an appro-

priate amendment will be moved. Labour, j while opposed to any wage reductions, ■will probably marshal a host of amendments in Committee, with the object Jeast of securing a graduated cut. No Major Concession. . However, Mr. Forbes is not likely to * yield on any vital principle in the proposals. Discussing the position over a cigarette in his room to-day, he recalled the parallel of a military campaign. He said there were 99 excellent reasons why an army should not advance and only one why it should. It was the one reason -which won the battle. "Similarly there are 99 excellent reasons why we should not cut down expenditure and one why we should," he said. We want the money. , " A member in the House to-day tried , to call us a ' tightwad' Government. Hewas entirely wrong. We have no wad at •11. The trouble is that all sections of Ihe community appear to agree that economy is imperatively necessary, but they want it done at tho expense' of Bvery seetion but their owif."

|At the present rate of progress it is inevitable that the session will Bxtend considerably beyond the three weeks originally predicted by Mr. Forbes fnd already members are discussing a short break from work at Easter, now only two weeks away. Quiet Day of Debate.

The atmosphere in the House to-day Was particularly quiet and suggestive of a calm before the storm. Civil servants v/ho crowded the galleries in the evening were not rewarded with an anticipated clash of political forces, as most of the speeches were keyed to an academic economic pitch. Mr. H. M. Rushworfh (Country—Bay, of Islands) endeavoured to move an Amendment seeking a postponement, of the operation of the bill until the wheat ®nd flour duties were abolished, or at least reduced. However, the amendment was ruled out. After the supper adjourn- ! rnent, Mr. \V. J. Jordan (Labour —Manukau) promoted an amendment to the effect that, the House should decline to Rive a second reading to the bill, which failed to meet, the Dominion's financial obligations by means of a graduated system of nnvmenf bv citizens. The Tfouse adjourned at midnight.

PROFITS FROM PETROL

additional revenue.

MR. JORDAN'S SUGGESTION.*

[BY TELEfiK AFIt.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Thursday.

A proposal to raise revenue from petrol companies in preference to reducing civil servants' salaries was made in tlie House Representatives this evening by Mr. * J. Jordan (Labour —Manukau). Mr. Jordan said the cost of landing jP'rit in New Zealand amounted, roughly, 10 6d a gallon. The duty was 6d, and Ptt.rol was delivered to the retailer at the "lain centres at Is 9d, leavjng. a profit ."d for the companies. The retailer n ii* he spirit at the main centres at 2s gallon and il a profit of 3d a gallon was Urficient for the man who had to keep Station open day and night to sell in rpp, or four-gallon quantities, surely a •nular profit should he enough for the i tn P a uies, who delivered the spirit in Ur ge quantities. Im " le ''i lßis allowing this profit to Porters, it would he possible for the ! - vei ' n ment to increase the duty by 6d B a 'lon find obtain additional revenue of £1.800,000. m Ve P if the Government sought to give ,i r ! s ' s 'he benefit of reduced prices, . charged only (he additional 4d duty, £1 R ''" ' SC possible to raise cert • ' "'' s would ho subject to eß j ? ,n reductions in the way of sales of ijfo. J 1 ®!- used on roads, but even then P rov ' f -'° 'he amount it was proInM ?,. s * vc '*>' " )c reduction of wages Civil Servico. I