PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 May 1932, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

* k, FINANCE BILL.In the House of Representatives yesterday it took the whole of the morning to go through several new clauses of the Finance Bill which had been introduced by the Government. There was a long hold-up over the provision for the continuance of the payment of £500,000 out of motor spirit and tire taxation to the Consolidated Fund instead of to the .Highways Re- ■ venue Account, and although Labour critics were dissatisfied with the dis- K posal of the money, there were many on the Government benches who expressed satisfaction with the proviso that the highways fund saouiu nave flrst call for road maintenance purposes at least on taxation raised. It was after this question liad been debated for a long time that Mr A. Stuart, the new Government member for Rangitikei, created a precedent Yjjm moving the closure and succeeding ml having it applied. Labour’s last stand on the Bill before the third reading'was made early in the afternoon, when Mr W. E. Parry moved for its recommittal at the end of the Committee stages. This wrecking amendment was discussed for -fij over an hour, but it was lost by 36 votes to 21, and the third reading debate, which is used by members mainly to record in Hansard what they have said in Committee, was started at once. It was interrupted just before the tea adjournment to enable a Government Bill made necessary by the financial straits of the Thames Borough to be put through all stages. There was ■ another interruption for the approval of minor amendments made to the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill by the Upper House, and the rest of the night was spent on the third reading of the Finance Bill. LATE SITTING. WELLINGTON, This Day.'* Speaking at an early hour this morn- . ing the Hon. W. D. 'Stewart feplied in the House of Representatives to the third reading debate on the Finance Bill. The Minister referred particularly to the special power for dismissal of disloyal public, servants. He said Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) had asked whether public .servants were to be debarred from being members of a political party. It had always been the cardinal virtue of a civil servant that he took no active part in politics beyond recording his vote, Mr Stewart declared. The Leader of the Opposition: • “What about those who have beeu associated with the Reform Party H” Mr Stewart: “It should not have been allowed.” Mr Holland: “One was a member of a committee of the Minister of Public Works. ’ ’ Mr Stewart: “If that was so it, was quite wrong and should not have been, allowed.” Ho went on to say that it was the pride and glory of public vice that it did not participate iW party politics and loyally served >vl ia ™ over Government was in office. The same rule applied in most countries in the world. Referring to the Thames case the Minister said he regarded it as one of the gravest political scandals that had occurred in New Zealand in his' memory. The Leader of the Opposition: “But wasn’t it an isolated case;” Mr Stewart: “Not by any means. It has obtained in practically every part of the Dominion. I recently had word that it was going on in Dunedin. It is impossible to suppose such a . thing should be allowed to go on.” Tne Bui was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 3.30 a.m. until 2.30 this afternoon. RENT RESTRICTION. t At the request of Mr P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central), the Primw Minister agreed to extend the operqj* tion of the Rent Restriction Act unti* 31st October, and a clause to this effect was inserted in the Finance Bill shortly after. The Act would otherwise have expired in August. Mr Faser asked the Prime Minister whether he would consider extending the Act. He said the provisions of the National Expenditure Adjustment Act did not meet all cases, and a large number of tenants would suffer hardship if the Rent Restriction Act were allowed to lapse. If it were extended the Government could go into the whole question thoroughly next session.