FIVE TO ONE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19693, 27 July 1938, Page 5

FIVE TO ONE

SPEAKERS IN HOUSE

DEBATE ON THE BUDGET

LIVELY EXCHANGES

SALES TAX POLICY

(Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day

Resuming yesterday afternoon and revivified as a result of the week-end recess, members of the House of Representatives continued the debate on the financial .statement which the 'Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, introduced last week.

Government speakers in the debate outweighed the Opposition, the proportion being five to one. There were some lively exchanges when the Opposition sole contributor, Mr. W. J. Poison (Nat., Stratford) became critical of the Government's action regarding the sales tax and its defence policy, but apart from these there was nothing to relieve the monotony.of a long recital of arguments that have lost their gloss and glamour.

The only Minister to take part in the debate was the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. (Langstone, who contended that better conditions of living were enjoyed by all sections of the community as a result of the present administration.

Following up a favourite line of criticism, (Mr. Poison demonstrated remarkable talent for looking up references by Ministers to the sales tax which they have neglected to abolish. He quoted something from practically every (Minister, all critical of the tax, and he commenced with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, who interjected: "I deny that I said I was going to take it off immediately.'' Mr. Poison: Can you deny you said that nobody could defend it? Mr. Savage: I say so now.

The House was greatly amused by the extent of Mr, Poison's research, for every front bench occupant had said something, when in the Opposition, which could be turned to account under the changed conditions, For instance, a statement of the Hon. P. Fraser was revived: "This is the meanest form of taxation ever introduced into this country," but the most amusing reminder concerned the Hon. R. Semple, who, when in Opposition, declared: "Never in the history of the country has a more unjust and savage tax been inflicted." "And," concluded Mr. Poison triumphantly, "it is a Savage tax now." The Prime Minister joined in the laughter.