DULL DAVIN HOUSE

Southland Times, Issue 22992, 11 September 1936, Page 8

DULL DAVIN HOUSE

Dreary Committee Discussion MR SAVAGE APPLIES CLOSURE FARM WORKERS’ BILL PASSED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 10. There was a day of almost extreme dullness in the House of Representatives to-day, when a marathon discussion in committee on the provisions of the Agricultural Workers’ Bill practically monopolized the attention of members. Old arguments were brought forward monotonously during a dreary discussion, and there was a sense of genuine relief when the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) applied the closure to the debate on the Short Title. At the opening of the sitting some time was spent in consideration of reports from select committees. When the House went into committee on the Agricultural Workers’ Bill, and under cover of the Short Title, members ranged far and wide for about four hours in discussing the farm labour problem. Personalities Introduced.

With the debate stretching into the evening sitting personalities began to be introduced and tempers were becoming a little frayed when the Prime Minister moved the closure. Strangely enough, this was carried without a division. The rest of the committee stages occupied only a few minutes. One amendment was introduced by the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) and the Bill was finally read a third time and passed.

Subsequently the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s Message. The measure gives effect to the taxing proposals outlined in the Budget, although there are minor- alterations in the rates to be charged on company debentures. Before the House rose at 9.50 p.m. the Prime Minister stated that the second reading debate on the Mortgagors and Lessees’ Rehabilitation Bill would be resumed to-morrow.