VARIETY IN THE HOUSE

Southland Times, Issue 23888, 5 August 1939, Page 8

VARIETY IN THE HOUSE

Little Originality By Speakers

MENTION OF FORCED COALITION

INDIFFERENT INTEREST IN PROCEEDINGS

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 4. Variety was the keynote of speeches in the financial debate in the House today though very little that was original was added to the contributions that have already been made. When the House adjourned for the week-end 13 speakers had participated. Friday is usually a dull day in the House when a set debate is in progress and interest in the proceedings for most of the day was indifferent. The first Independent to speak was Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) and he expressed the firm opinion that London financiers, so that the standards of the people of this country could be reduced, would force the Government' and the Opposition into a coalition. He expected this interesting development within a few months. The effect of the new taxation proposals on the farmer were detailed by Mr T. L. Macdonald (Nat., Mataura), and Mr S. G. Holland (Nat, Christchurch North) analysed some of the figures that appeared in the “Budget of confusion.” He was interested in what the “left wing” of the Government thought about the financial proposals too. The only Government speaker was Mr R. M. Macfarlane (Lab., Christchurch South) who presented a general defence of the Government’s case.