MANY DIVISIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 13

MANY DIVISIONS

UNEMPLOYMENT LEVY CHARGE TO BE CONTINUED NO REDUCTIONS ALLOWED [bt telegraph—special REPORTER J WELLINGTON, Saturday Frequent divisions marked the committee stages of the Employment Promotion Bill in the House of Representatives on Friday. On six occasions within about an hour amendments put forward by Opposition members were responsible for setting the division bells ringing and with members crossing the floor of the House to the lobbies at frequent intervals, the proceedings were likened by Mr. J. A. Lee (Government—Grey Lynn) to a game of musical chairs. During the discussion in committee the Minister of Employment, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, replied to a question from the Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition—Wallace) regarding the future activities of members of the Unemployment Board. When the Unemployment Act was repealed, the Minister said, they would cease to be members of the board. They were efficient officers and arrangements had already been made for the transfer of one of them to another department. An amendment that the unemployment levy of £1 a year should be abolished was moved in committee by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition— Waitomo). He smilingly suggested that the time had arrived when taxation should be lowered in the interests of the people.

"The same amendment was moved by the Prime Minister when he was in the Opposition and the original legislation was before Parliament," said Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford). "Revenue is buoyant at present and we are quite consistent in moving the amendment. The last Government promised to do away with the levy as soon as possible." The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, said the Government had never believed in the unemployment tax and did not believe in it now. However, they had to pick up and patch up what had been left of New Zealand by Mr. Poison and his friends. Everything the Unemployment Act stood for would be abolished at the earliest possible moment, but in the meantime the Government had to rely on obsolete* methods handed down to it by its predecessors. The amendment was lost by 40 votes to 12. Subsequently, Mr. H. S. S Kyle (Opposition —Riccarton) moved that the levy be reduced from os to Is a quarter. This was lcist by 41 votes to 12. A further amendment by Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Opposition —Motueka) that women doing regular work on farms should be exempt from unemployment tax was also defeated and a similar fate met two mere amendments by Mr. Kyle that people earning under £1 a week should be exempt from the tax and that exemption should be applied to married couples whose joint incomes did not exceed £7O a year. Sixteen of the 48 clauses were passed before the committee stages were interrupted and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. LABOUR AT GENEVA GOVERNMENT DELEGATE MR. McKEEN' FAREWELLED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Saturday Members of the Government in the House of Representatives and members of the Labour Party in the Legislative Council, met in the Government Whip's room to farewell Mr. R. McKeen, M.P. for Wellington South, who will leave Wellington next week to represent the Government at the International Labour Conference at Geneva. A presentation of two leather travelling bags was made to Mr. McKeen on behalf of the gathering by the Prime' Minister. Mr. Savage, who extended best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. McKeen for a safe voyage and a successful mission. Mr. Savage expressed his confidence that Mr. McKeen would worthily represent the Dominion at Geneva. Mr. McKeen lyid a great knowledge of labour conditions in the Dominion.

MEMBERS' MISTAKES

BUSINESS BEFORE HOUSE

SERIES OF MISCONCEPTIONS

["BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER]

WELLINGTON, Saturday

Mistakes by several members as to the exact nature of the business before them were responsible for several comedies of errors in the House of Hepresentatives on Friday, when the Labour Department Amendment Bill and the Employment Promotion Bill were under discussion. On night the House had been discussing the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, but when the House resumed on Friday morning the Labour Department Amendment Bill had been moved to the top of the order paper. When the order of the day was called there was the surprising spectacle of the Minister of Labour, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, and Mr. 0. fl. Chapman (Government—Wellington North) rising to their feet simultaneously. Mr. Chapman had thought that the previous night's debate was to be continued and appeared somewhat crestfallen when he found he could not give the House the benefit n \' ews 0,1 arbitration. I lie mistake proved infectious. The debate had not been long in progress when the Minister of Lnnds, Hon. F Langstone, commenced a vigorous denunciation of the policy of wage reductions He proceeded for a while before the Speaker, Hon. W. E. Barnard asked him what bill he was discussing "The Arbitration Amendment Bill,'' said Mr. Langstone. The House laughed heartily and the Minister explained that he had arrived late in the Chamber and had assumed that the previous night's debate was being continued.

There was a further amusing interlude just after the luncheon adjournment. Mr. H S. S. Kyle (Opposition— Riccarton) had been speaking previously, but when the House resumed be retained his Heat. Mr. Armstrong was not in the House at the time and the second reading was carried on the voices without the benediction of a Ministerial reply. The Minister entered later and attempted to reply to the debate, but bv that time the House was in committee discussing the short title and he waß promptly ruled out of order.