THE SESSION.

Wairarapa Age, 16 July 1931, Page 5

THE SESSION.

UNEMPLOYMENT BILLL PASSED BY COUNCIL. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY RESUMED IN HOUSE. LABOUR NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION TO-DAY. (By Telegraph.— 1 ‘The Age’’ Special.) WELLINGTON, July 15. The Legislative Council provided the most interesting feature of the Parliamentary proceedings to-day, for it disposed of the Unemployment Bill in an extended sitting. Councillors discussed the emergency measure in a sympathetic manner and were thanked hy the Hon. R. Masters, Acting Leader of the Council, for their reception of the Bill. Mr. Masters countered suggestions for alternative methods of raising funds by pointing out that heavier taxes on luxuries might lead, not to increased revenue, but to a curtailment of taxable resources. He instanced the heavy drop in totalisator receipts as showing the diminishing possibilities from this class of taxation. The Bill was ultimately passed without amendment, and at the end of this month wage and salary-earners will individually begin to experience its effects in the way of the threepence in the pound wage tax. The Address-in-Reply debate, which was continued in the House of Representatives, provided no special features. Reform members devoted most of their time to the demolition of critical Labour speeches, while the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland) reserved his attack and no-confidence amendment till the debate resumes, when he has the right of speech, having moved the adjournment.