FINAL STAGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 13

FINAL STAGES

ALL-NIGHT SITTING

frequent divisions efforts by opposition "STONEWALL" INCIDENTS BRIEF TIITRD READING _ ■ / [BY TEI.EGRAPn —SPECIAL RETORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday After an all-night sitting, punctuated at frequent intervals by the jangling of division bells, the Primary Products Marketing Bill giving effect to the Government's policy of a guaranteed price for dairy farmers, was passed by the House of Representatives a few minutes before six o'clock this morning. From the opening of the sitting yesterday afternoon the comparative handful of Opposition members put up a determined "stonewall" as their only real means of protest against the measure. Six times the closure was applied by the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, in an effort to expedite proceedings and finally the Opposition retired from the fray, allowing the last clauses of the bill to pass in Committee almost unchallenged. The third reading debate was brief and to the point. Three Opposition members combined in delivering a final despairing thrust at the Government's impenetrable armour of silent confidence. The Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, replied to the debate for the last time and with the noises of the morning invasion of charwomen echoing round the building the bill went through.

Attack Skilfully Led

The Committee stqge which opened at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, lasted exactly 12 hours, although nearly half of that time was spent in a discussion 011 the short title. After midnight the Opposition "stonewall" was intensified 'and amendments were brought forward with a shrewd sense of tactical values. The attack was skilfully led. There was the urbanity of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Kaipara) with his "series of rhetorical'questions and occasional efforts to sting the Government into reply, the determination of the Hon. A. Hamilton (Wallace) making point after point with true Scottish pertinacity, and the mercurial spirits of Sir. W. J. Broadfoot (Wai- " tomo) enlivening the whole battle. Clause 10 of the bill, which provides for the setting up of the Dairy Industry Account in the Reserve Bank, was attacked with a will, the Opposition describing it as the "sky's the limit" clause. Both Mr. Coates and Mr. Hamilton sought information as to how the Government proposed to operate the unrestricted overdraft allowed for in the account.

Reference to Waiho Gorge Mr. Nash made it clear that any

overdraft in the account would not be

regarded as part of the national debt. * It would be a credit in the books of the Reserve Bank. The Government would owe the money to itself. "Tliat means the farmer will have to pay in the end," said Mr. Coates. Mr. Nash: 1 can only make a statement, but I cannot give you the wisdom . to understand it. Wheii Mr. Coates persisted that the Minister was not putting the position clearly the Prime Minister suggested that he should "go down to Waiho Gorgd and have a think about it." Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) put forward an amendment to limit the Government's borrowing powers in the Dairy Industry Account, but it was not long before the closure was /applied. The Opposition repeated its tactics of dividing the House ' on the closure motion, the amendment and the clause itself forcing three divisions in the space of a quarter of an hour. There was a brief passage at arms when the clause excluding dairy produce from the Chatham Islands from the provisions of the bill was under discussion. Mr. J. Hargest (Opposition—Awarua) wished to have the same privilege extended to Stewart Island, 'but Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition— Riccarton), who.moved an amendment for him, added the Cook Islands for good measure. Closure Motion Not Accepted

Government members joined in and suggested that the exemption might be extended to Somes Island, Rangitoto Island and the Hen and Chickens. For a few minutes the House was in cheerful mood, but suddenly the Prime Minister rose to move the closure. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (OppositionCentral Otago) immediately raised a point of order on the grounds that the amendment had been moved but that no discussion had been allowed. It was the duty of the chair to protect the privileges of members in that respect. Mr. J. A. Lee (Government —Grey Lynn)® The member for Riccarton was not taking himself seriously. The Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes: It is the duty of the chairman to decide whether a member is trifling with the chair. The chairman of committees, Mr. E. J. Howard, ruled that as the amendment had not been discussed the Prime Minister's closure motion was premature. This marked the first occasion of the session on which a closure motion' has been rejected. A series of amendments by Mr. A. C. A. Sexton (Independent—Franklin) regarding the price-fixing provisions of the bill saw the voting against the Government increased as the Opposition to a man voted with Mr. Sexton and Mr. H. M. Rnshworth (Country— Bay of Islands). Previously Mr. Sexton and Mr. Rushworth had_voted consistently with the Government. But even that did not stop the Prime Minister putting the closure to discussion on the amendments. Collapse of Opposition

Once the main price-fixing clause had been disposed of organised opposition to nil intents and purposes collapsed. There was hardly any discussion on tho remaining marketing clauses or on the section of the bill providing for the reeonstitution of the dairy board. Even the now clause introduced bv Mr. Nash empo<verine the Minister of Marketing to make reciprocal trade agreements slipped through without comment. The preamble was likewise ignored and with, the committee stage completed the House spirit just under two hours on the third reading;, which was finally carried without division. The Prime Minister rose and moved that "This House in its rising do adjourn until 7.30 o'clock in the evening." There were sighs of relief as weary members filed out of the chamber for 12 hours' well-earned rest. Discussion on the bill stretched over five sitting days and exclusive of adjournments occupied the time of the House for 32 hours. From tho taking ot urgency yesterday afternoon to the niial passing of the hill this morning were 20 divisions, but on none or- them did the Government have a smaller majority than 25.