ALL-NIGHT DEBATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 945, 15 December 1933, Page 1

ALL-NIGHT DEBATE.

Interest in Report of Auditor-General. THE PENSION CUT. (‘•Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, December 15. The House sat till 4.20 o’clock this morning discussing the report of the Public Accounts Committee relating to the contents of the Auditor-General’s report, the discussion on this subject having commenced a few minutes after 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Whilst the speakers mainly directed their attention to Colonel Campbell’s strictures on the administration of the Native Department, several Labour members pointed out with pride that the Auditor-General had agreed with their view that cuts in the old-age pensions w r ere made a month before the legislation authorising the cuts operated, this leading Mr Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East) to suggest that the Government should make a Christmas present of the short-paid amount to pensioners.

Members on both sides of the House took particular pains to keep clear of personalities in discussing the administratipn of the Native Department, and made it clear that they appreciated the ambitious efforts made by Sir Apirana Ngata to push on w’ith Native land development. The only suggestion affecting the position of the Minister came from Mr Walter Na£h (Labour, Hutt), who suggested that it would be wise for the Minister to resign the Native Affairs portfolio while' retaining others in his care, so as to enable officers of the Native Department to give evidence before the Commission without any fears of being disloyal to the Ministerial head. The debate continued until every member w’ho desired to speak had expressed his views, and it was clear daylight when members forsook the chamber in search of their beds. (Earlier reports appear on Page 11).