MINISTER MISSING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19133, 30 September 1936, Page 5

MINISTER MISSING

TAXATION BILL DEBATE OPPOSITION COMMENT ' 'UNUSUAL PROCEDURE'' (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day The busiest man in the Ministry, the Hon. W, Nash, Minister of Finance, was absent from the House of Representatives yesterday when the second reading discussion on two of his measures came to an end. The usual Ministerial reply was, therefore, not given, and Oppositionists, though surprised, did not comment on this unexpected situation. However, when the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill was then taken in committee, with the Minister in charge still out of the House, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Nat., Kaipara) raised a point of order. "A most unusual procedure, to have a bill in committee without the Minister in charge of it," he commented. . The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. j. Savage, looking up from the notes he had been making replied: "I am in charge. There is only room for one Minister at a time." Mr. Coates: The Minister in charge should be in his place beside the chairman. Is "the Prime Minister in charge? "Yes, I am really in earnest," answered Mr. Savage, and the point of order was ruled out by Mr. E. J. Howard, chairman of committees, who said there was no standing order whatever on the point raised. A few minutes later the Minister of Finance reassured Opposition critics of the procedure by taking his usual place alongside the chairman, and he received from the Prime Minister some notes of questions raised during his absence.