WASTE OF TIME.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 13

WASTE OF TIME.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 1. With Parliament in its fifth week, and not a Bill passed yet except the Imprest measures, the Prime Minister this evening broke forth in condemnation of the waste of time, that had taken place on the part of the Opposition. The House was in committee on the Land and Income Tax Assessment Bill, ■which raises the limit of income tax at the rate of £25 per child up to four children. When Mr Massey spoke out the measure had then been' in committee for over an hour and a half, while the Opposition talked about still further raising the limit and lightening the load on the worker. At 8 o’clock Mr Massey put in this plea: “1 don’t think it i.s at all fair lo waste the time of the House in the, way it has been wasted during the past few days. This waste of time is becoming serious. We have work enough to occupy Parliament for the longest session New Zealand has ever seen. 1 hope and believe that we shall be able to get our legislation through and do some good for the country ; but this continual wrangle between one Side of the House and the other is no good for the country and no good for the House.” Some little time was occupied with speech and counter speech between Mr Isitt and Mr Massey. Thereafter Mr Hanan delivered a homily about the virtues of maintaining the debate on a high level. When he sat down Mr Allen raised a laugh by saying : ‘‘May I suggest that we come back to consideration of this Bill?” Later on, he continued, they would have the customs tariff and a discussion on the cost of living. Till that came down it was no use taking up the attitude that because thev could not have these subjects they would oppose anything else. A few minutes later Mr Massey, after an explanation by Mr Isitt, said that now -that the was cleared he did hope they would get down to work and do something.—(Hear, hear.) Honestly, he.wished to avoid recrimination. He retorted only when others attacked him. At this point Mr Malcolm began to exhibit more firmness and directed members to confine themselves more strictly to the question before the House. What this question was he reminded them, as he was afraid they had forgotten what it was—(Laughter.) Thereafter, some improvement was evinced in the lines of the discussion.