BRISK PACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22893, 23 November 1937, Page 13

BRISK PACE

.VARIETY OF TOPICS FINANCE BILL debate CONTROVERSIAL POINTS CRITICISM OF LAND TAX [BV TELEG-RATH —SPECIAL KEPORTER] "WEJJ.IXG TON, Monday \ commemlablv brisk pane was set by {he House of Representatives when it resumed io-dav after its brief weekend recess. The Coal Alines Amendment ]{ill was put through all its principal stages in the afternoon and subsequently good progress was made with the second reading debate 011 the formidable array of legislative proposals I contained in the Finance Bill. 1 the start of the sitting the Elec- ' toral Amendment Bill, restoring three year Parliaments 'and placing Alaori voters 011 an equal footing with Europeans, was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee.; Verv little of interest occurred in fho discussion 011 , the Coal Alines Amendment Bill. Opposition members generally were in agreement with the proposals contained in the measure and several of them congratulated the , Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, 011 his administration of the Mines Department. The bill was passed without amendment. When the House resumed after tho ' dinner adjournment a start was made with tho second reading debate on tho Finance Bill. The main points raised by the Alinister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, in opening'the discussion concerned the winding up of the State ! / Advances and Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Accounts, the provision ol a hardship clause in relation to puv- ! inents of graduated, land tax, the exer- : cise of borrowing powers and the valii dating of end of seiison payments from I the Dairy Industry Account. All these points were also discussed by the Leader of the Opposition, tho Hon. A. Hamilton, who devoted some time to a vigorous criticism of the 1 graduated land tax. I After the first two speeches the debate lost much of- its interest, and while Mr. J. G. Barclay (Government — Marsden) was speaking the Speaker's attention was drawn to the fact that only 13 members were present in the House, seven short of the necessary quorum. The ringing of the division bells rectified this position and the debate proceeded quietly until the House rose at 10.30 o'clock.