A LATE SITTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23897, 26 August 1939, Page 9

A LATE SITTING

FINANCE AND TAXING BILLS KEEN DEBATE BY OPPOSITION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 25. , After sitting until 2.30 this morning to finish the second reading stages of the Finance Bill and the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill, the House of Representatives met again nine hours later to deal with these two Bills in committee. The sitting, which commenced on Thursday afternoon, was the latest this session and the second occasion since the opening of Parliament on which the House has sat beyond midnight. The discussion on the Finance Bill was continued by members of the Opposition after midnight, following the rejection of their amendment to have the Bill referred back to the Government for further consideration on the grounds that the Government’s borrowing programme for public works was excessive. The measure was unexpectedly read a second time without a reply fr m the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), who was temporarily absent from the Chamber. Five minutes was sufficient for the second reading debate on the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill, which was formally moved in Mr Fraser’s absence by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr D. G. Sullivan). This’was in keeping with expectations, however, for reference to the taxing Bill had been allowed in the debate on the Finance Bill in view of the fact that many of the provisions in the two measures were closely related. Mr Fraser had hurriedlv returned to the Chamber before the finish of the brief discussion, and he then indicated that he would answer the various points that had been raised on the Finance Bill during the committee stages. Among the members who were in their seats in the Chamber when the early morning adjournment was taken was Mrs C C S Stewart (Govt. Wellington West) It was originally intended to meet in the afternoon for to-day’s sitting, but as some Opposition members wished to leave Wellington for ’ the weekend. it was arranged to meet at 11.30 a.m. in the hone of obviating a Friday night sitting.