DELAY BY TALK.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17971, 21 August 1930, Page 5

DELAY BY TALK.

CUSTOMS BILL’S PASSAGE. Spar between Leaders. MR. COATES AND LABOUR. COMPARISON OF SPEECHES. (Special to Star.) W ELLINGTON, Aug. 21. Producing figures Avhich shoAA’ed that in the debates on the Customs Bill and on the short title on the finance Bill Labour had spoken more than Reform, the Leader of the Opposition, the. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, repudiated in the House last evening a suggestion by the Leader of the Labour ' Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, that the Opposition \A*as breaking the honourable agreement. The debate on a clause in the Finance Bill relating to an increase in tlie bank note tax was becoming protracted Avhen Mr. Holland rose and said the only effectrte Avay of getting to a decision was for the Reform Party to put the question to the /vote. Mr. Holland said he Avas very much concerned Avhen a premise he Avas a party to AA’as not being kept. Taa*o days had been spent on the Bill and the House Avas getting toAA’ard the third day and still the debate AA’ent on.

Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform — Thames) : Tavo of your men Avere up just now*. Mr. Four Reformers have spoken without a break since then. It is a Avilf/ul dishonouring of the 'promise aa*© gave.

Mr. Samuel: Mere advertising. Mr. Holland: It is a fair thing honourably to observe a. premise. Mr. Samuel : You cannot hold your team.

If lie gave a promise on behalf of his party and its members did not observe it, said Mr. Holland, he Avould walk out of the' position he AA'as in, but the members of the Labour Party Avould not do that. “Let us get to a 'vote on this clause,”-he said. “If the Government is defeated, that is its business. I cannot belt? that.”

The Reform Party, y said Mr. Coates, had been accused of Avasting time. Mr. D. McDougall (United —Mataura) :t,So~ it did. Mr. Coates continued that' in the debate cm the Customs Bill when Mr. Forbes had criticised him unfairly, Reform spoke 59 times on the second reading and about the title, Labour 59 times, the Independents 22. and United 38. In other words, Reform had spoken 59 times and the other parties 119 times. On the short title of the present Bill Labour had spoken 12 times and Reform nine times. That was tlje honourable agreement. Labour’s attitude was thin.

Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour—Auckland Central) insistently interrupted Avith a request that Mr. Coates tell where he got his records from and had to he called to order.

Mr. Holland said every word he had uttered went. Mr. Coates continued that Labour’s attitude would not wash. Reform was not present to hinder the business, hut it had a. right to oppose. Mr. D. Jones (Reform—Mid-Canter-bury) suggested as an amendment that the clause relating to the bank note tax he in operation only till October. 1931. That would not deprive the Government of revenue. Mr. Forbes said he could not accept the. amendment, as it showed preferential treatment of one section of the community. He would he pleased to review the taxation next year and A\’as hopeful that remissions might be made. Mr. Jones: That’s the first cheerful thing you’ve said for the last six months.

Finally the clause was adopted without division.