SLOW PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 13

SLOW PROGRESS

TAXATION DEBATE third day on bill activity of opposition A MARATHON DISCUSSION j r BT TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday For the third day in succession th« Annual Taxing Bill, maintaining the rates of land and income tax levied last was the main topic of discussion in the House of Representatives to-day. Members of the Opposition followed up, the-declaration of war which they made, on Tuesday, and, as the opening of the) committee stages to-night was broad-) cast Government members had to defend their own legislation. "When the House met this afternoon another bite was taken at the seem- 1 Wly interminable Budget debate. There were three speakers, two Opposition -uttl one Government, and the contribution of greatest interest came from Sir Apirana Ngata, (Opposition—Eastern Maori), who made a typically sincere, and reasoned plea for consideration for the native race. Sir Apirana ■was still speaking at the dinner adjournment. but the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, extended him the courtesy of postponing the committee stages of the Taxing Bill in order that he might finish his speech. When the House went into committee on the Taxing Bill a marathon discussion developed on the short, title. It was inaugurated by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, who claimed that the Government had gifer. no real indication of how it proposed to deal with national finances in the" event of a falling off in revenue. There was a spirited reply from the Prime Minister, but subsequently discussion lapsed into a fairly weary reiteration of arguments employed during the second reading debate. The discussion on the short title was still in progress at midnight.