URGENCY TAKEN

Southland Times, Issue 22471, 6 November 1934, Page 8

URGENCY TAKEN

APPROPRIATION BILL LABOUR MEMBERS ANNOYED NO TIME TO STUDY DETAILS (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 5. By introducing to-night the Appropriation Bill which is usually the last of the session, the Government incurred the wrath of the Opposition, especially in view of the fact that urgency was taken with the object of passing the measure at the sitting. “You are not going to pass it tonight surely?” exclaimed Mr M. J. Savage, when the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates moved for urgency. Mr Coates: Yes. Mr Savage: We want time to look at it Mr Coates: There is nothing out of the ordinary, it is just the same as usual. Mr Savage: This is certainly an outrage. Mr Coates: I do not want to commit an outrage. Mr Savage: But the Order Paper is not cleared up by any means. Mr Coates: I am going to move for urgency for the Appropriation and Finance Bills.

Mr Savage: You are not going to hasten it that way. Mr J. A. Lee: You want to get away before we deal with the Native Commission’s Report. The motion for urgency was forced to a division and was carried by 33 votes to 19.

When Mr Coates was moving the second reading of the measure, he said that it appeared that Mr Savage had been taken by surprise, or that the Leader of the Opposition had said he was surprised. Mr Savage: It would have been courtesy to let me know. Mr Coates: If that is so, I have been guilty of discourtesy, but it was quite unintentional.

He said that last year there were very few speakers on the Appropriation Bill, but there was reason why the Bill should be put through at the present time. Apart from that, the Government was quite entitled to bring down the Appropriation Bill when it wanted to. Mr F. Langstone: The reason is because you want to jettison some of the other legislation? Mr Coates: No, it is our intention to take the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill on Wednesday. Mr M. J. Savage: What about the Cinematograph Films Bill? Are we going to let that go ? Mr Coates: I am not sure.

Mr Savage: It seems by its own weight to have sunk to the bottom of the order paper. Mr Coates: What is your anxiety about it?

Mr A. S. Richards: And what is your anxiety about this Bill?

Mr Coates: Oh, you are not very experienced in these matters. Mr A. J. Stallworthy: But it is a departure from the usual custom. Mr Coates: There are reasons which I think you would agree with. Mr Langstone: And you can close down once you get it through. Mr Coates: Oh, yes, but we don’t intend to do that. To-morrow we will take the report of the Native Affairs Commission and on Wednesday we will take the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill and some other Bills. Mr A. Harris: How about the Film Bill? Mr Coates: The most important. Bill we have is the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill. Mr Harris: The Film Bill is a very important Bill. Mr Coates: We have a number of important Bills, including a very important company law amendment. The position as I understand it is that members are hoping to get important business finished up so that they can get home. Mr Lee was the first speaker to follow Mr Coates. He . said it had been rumoured that certain big Sydney interests had had sufficient power to prevent the Film Bill being dealt with. Mr Coates: You might like to know that I have not had one communication on the subject. REASON FOR ACTION COURTESY TO LORD BLEDISLOE. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 5. It was learned late to-night that the reason for bringing the measure down before the usual time was as an act of courtesy to Lord Bledisloe, who must sign the measure personally, and who intends to leave for Christchurch to attend the Agricultural Show. The Governor-General made no request that this should be done, but it was felt that it would be a graceful act to permit him to visit the show, in which he is keenly interested. This reason, however, was not announced in the House and was unknown to members of the Opposition. BILL PUT THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT DISCUSSED. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, November 5. Although unemployment has been repeatedly debated during the present session, the House of Representatives once more settled down to listen to the views of Labour members on what has not been done for relief workers when the Appropriation Bill came before it this evening. Urgency was taken for the passage of the measure and also for the Finance Bill. The first Bill was put through by 12.45 and the Finance Bill is being considered in committee.