THE TARIFF DISCUSSION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20222, 7 October 1927, Page 10

THE TARIFF DISCUSSION.

SWEET REASONABLENESS. , PRIME MINISTER'S ASSURANCE. (From Oun Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, October 6. Although it was considered desirable to put the Customs Amendment Bill through its second reading at one sitting of the House of Representatives, and to this end members were kept up until a quarterpast 3 this morning, it is not the intention of the Government to rush the Bill with its accompanying new tariff schedule through its final stages. In the early hours of this morning a protest was made by the Opposition against the second reading being taken at one sitting, and while in view of the important nature of the Bill the views of the Opposition were supported by one or two members on the Government benches, a motion put at 20 minutes to 2 that the debate be postponed was heavily defeated, only the Opposition members' voting for it. Fatigue was plainly evident among the majority present, and there was scarcely a bench in the House that did not contain a recumbent form. The Minister in charge of the Bill (Mr W. Downie Stewart) did not reply to the observations which had been made, and the second reading was carried on the voices. Any apprehensions which members may have had concerning the Government’s intentions in making progress with the measure were allayed in a discussion across the floor of the House which preceded the committal of the Bill this afternoon. “ How far does the Government intend to go with the Bill in committee tonight?” asked the Loader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland). The previous evening, he said, everything was indefinite, and nobody knew how far the Government intended to go, the result being that there was scarcely anybody in the House when the second reading was taking place. Mr Holland suggested that the Prime Minister should fix a definite hour at which they should stop for the day. It was quite obvious, he said, that the committee stage could not be completed that sitting. “We have no intention of doing anything like that,” the Prime Minister (Mr Coates) replied. “ All we ask for is reasonable progress.” Mr G. W. Forbes (ITurunui) ; Can’t yon fix a definite hour? The Prime Minister; No, I cannot. Mr Holland; You wouM not suggest keeping us here until 3 o'clock, would you? The Prime Minister: No; all I ask for is co-operation. Wc want full and reasonable discussion. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) : You will get that if you are reasonable. The Prime Minister (smiling) : I am never anything else but reasonable. Mr Holland: You wore not reasonable last night. Mr Coates said that when revisions of the tariff were before the last two Parliaments the second reading was put through at one sitting. There was nothing new in the procedure that had been followed on the present occasion. Sir Joseph Ward would bear him out in that. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) : But wc arc in the habit of making precedents, not following them. The Prime Minister: I can assure you that there will be nothing but sweet reasonableness. We do not intend to sit late to-night. It would be unreasonable. Mr Forbes: There was nothing unreasonable in the speeches last night. The Prime Minister: Oh, no, as long as we can get ahead wc shall be satisfied. The House then went into committee, where full advantage was taken of the liberty accorded to debate on the short title to discuss the whole range of Customs taxation. When the short title is passed members will have to confine their remarks to the danse or item immmediatcly under review.