FROM THE GALLERY.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18631, 9 May 1932, Page 6

FROM THE GALLERY.

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT. LONG DEBATE ON FINANCE BILL. | r 1 PUBLIC SERVICE- LOYALTY. /Times Correspondent.) ' WELLINGTON, Sunday. Fifty-seven hours of gruelling de- - bating had taken place on the proposals in the Finance Bill when the House of Representatives automatically adjourned shortly after midnignt on Saturday. The second reading commenced at 3 o’clock on Thursday, and 25 hours later the House went into committee to deal with the nieasure clause by clause. Progress on the 62 clauses was slow, and it was late on the Saturday night beiore the House reached the last and probably the most contentious clause, which deals with disloyalty in the Public Service and provides for summary dismissal. Earlier in the day, however, several new clauses had been brought down by Governor-General s Message, and with the addition or these the- measure consisted of Hi clauses. , It is a long time since a Prime Mlnjister has sought to dispose of ail stages of a measure containing sn many contentious clauses at the one : sitting. The famous “' stonewall ” on the Gaming Bill iff 1924 is generally quoted as the marathon of New Zealand political- debates, but there has been a longer continuous sitting on the Finance Bill, and no members of the present Parliament had previously participated in a debate that had extended through two and a-half days and three nights. It was 12.20 o’clock this morning before the sitting ended. The closure on the clause dealing with disloyalty had been carried by the aid of the closure at about 10 minutes tomidnight, and an argument then ensued for another half-hour as to whether the House should sit- on Sunday or not. Thames Borough Bill. In seeking urgency on Thursday Mr Forbes was apparently imbued wild a desire to live up to his prediction that the session would finish by the weekend. As things stand at present, however,- it does not seem that Parliament will now be prorogued before Tuesday at the earliest. When the Finance Bill is disposed of there are some amendments to the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill to be considered, and in addition a measure will also be brought down in connection with the default of the Thames Borough Council in interest payments to bondholders. On top of that there are tne usual formalities and valedictory references associated with the close of a session. The Finance Bill provides for supply for State services until October, so that a session before the return of the New Zealand delegation from Ottawa seems highly improbable. Feeling on the Finance Bill at time’s ran high, and often outran the intensity during the closing hours of the 1930 session, when the United Government incurred the hostility of the Labour Party through dropping m amendment to the existing industrial law. There were only short breaks for meals and a heavy toll of members’ vitality was taken by the Prime Minister’s refusal to allow an adjournment for sleep. Jaded and with blinking eyes members quickly made their way to their lodgings early this morning following the midnight adjournment, for they had been in their clothes since Thursday.

No-Confidence Motion Lost. During the debate the Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, moved a no-confidence motion. At no time had it been regarded with any apprehension by the Government, and it was lost by 4 9 votes to 27, the Labour Party gaining the support of three Independents. Much was heard of the Government’s intentions to extend the life of the present Parliament by one year. Labour speakers contended that there existed no legal right to add another year to Parliament’s life, and that any move in that 'direction could be challenged Successfully by the Governor-General. It was contended it Was useless relying on the precedent established in the war years when Parliament’s term was temporarily prolonged because the action was not challenged then, and a broad hint was given that the Labour Party might take steps to block any extension by having resort to the Constitution. The proposal was agreed to by a margin of 12 votes, several members of the Government voting with the Labour Party. Fuel was added to the flames of Labour discontent when the Prime Minister made an exceptionally heated attack on certain sections of the Public Service, which lie charged with deliberately misrepresenting the Government in publications, aird with inciting actions which amounted to stabbing the Government in the back, llis remarks were prompted bj* criticism of the Clause in the Bill making it possible to dismiss summarily public servants who were guilty of bringing llie Government into disrepute, and he aroused the House to a high pitch of interest with his trenchant indictment of those who were dividing the loyalty of the service. Two clauses in the Finance Bill were withdrawn by the Government, the one limiting the deposit building societies may accept to not less than £IOO and the other cancelling the payment of compensation for diseased stock. The latter clause was withdrawn in the fueo of a considerable amount of Government opposition led by Mr 11. S. S. Kyle (Government— Hiccarlon), who is a veterinary surgeon by profession. The House will resume again at 10.30 a.in. to-morrow.