DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18874, 18 February 1933, Page 5

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

SALES TAX BILL. LABOUR OBSTRUCTIONIST TACTICS HEATED WORDS IN HOUSE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Approximately half the committee stage of the Sales Tax Bill was comwhen the House of Representatives adjourned for breakfast this morning after the second suoceslve all night sitting. The closure was applied on occasions. A number of clauses were passed after divisions had been taken, while others were adopted on the voices. The . Finance Minister, Mr Coates, agreed to withdraw In the meantime the clause which states that securities by minors should have the same validity as If given by a person of full age. The debate during the night was quiet and orderly until a dispute arose over the application of the closure. The Incident oocurred about 5.30 a.m. after four Labour members had spoken on an amendment by Mr J. A. Lee (Labour —Grey Lynn) to strike out tho clause dealing with securities for the payment of the tax. The Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, moved the closure. _ There was instantly an outburst of protest from the Opposition benohes and Mr P. Fraser (Labour —Wellington Centre) called out “I ask that Mr Speaker be sent for." Demonstration of Protest. The demonstration of protest continued, members standing in their places and declaring "absolutely ridiculous,” “silly.” Mr Fraser added: We are not going to stand this sort of thing. We have not had an opportunity to discuss the question. Another Labour member submitted that the chairman had not used discretion In applying the motion. Mr S. G.' Smith (Chairman of Committees) : I have exercised it. Mr W. E. Barnard (Labour — Napier) : An infringement of the rights of the minority.'

Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) We should leave the chamber as a protest.

Mr Fraser: No, not that. The chairman again put the motion and there was a further uproar, Mr ,T. O’Brien (Labour —Westland) exclaiming “You can’t play the game anyhow.” Mr Barnard: We had no explanation from the Minister in charge. Amid further shouting Mr Fraser said: “The most Inefficient member who has ever sat in the chair of this committee." Mr Smith: I ask you to withdraw that. Mr Fraser: I won’t. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs): I want to endorse those words. Mr Smith (to Mr Fraser) : Will you repeat what you said? Mr Fraser: The most Inefficient member who has ever sat In the chair of this committee. Mr R. Semple (Labour —Wellington East) : Inefficient and cowardly. The chairman took note of the words used by Mi Fraser and then asked Mr Semple vvhat he had said. Mr Semple: My mind Is so tired, I have become so absent-minded that I cannot remember. Mr Smith: You used the words Inefficient and cowardly. Further exclamations followed in which Labour members cried “name us all." Mr Smith then sent for Mr Speaker, before whom he placed the circumstances of the incident. Ordered to Leave Chamber. Mr Fraser said he had refused to withdraw because the chairman had accepted the closure motion in contrevention of the spirit of the governing standing order. He considered the while the incident did not justify the use of the words he had employed it had given provocation to every member of the Opposition.

Mr Speaker then asked Mr Fraser to withdraw Hie words complained of, but Mr Fraser declined and on the Speaker’s instructions he withdrew from I lie chamber.

Me Forbes said Mr Lee’s amendment bad obviously been delaying the motion and was the culmination of a long period of obstruction. He contended that llie Parliamentary machine would lie brought to a standstill if a minority could prevent legislation going through. The only means of retaliation was by use of tho closure. He did not think the House could complain about how the closure had been used. Mr 1). W. Coleman (Labour —Gisborne) : Not until you came In. Mr Forbes said the House had undoubtedly been getting out of hand. Mr A. S. Richards (Labour —Roskiii): Not before you came in. Mr Forbes: I do not remember an occasion when greater disorder was shown and more unparliamentary words used. Labour Leador’s Grlovanco. The Lader or the Opposition, Mr il. E. Holland, took exception to the Prime Minister's assertion that there had pei'ii obstruction. No standing order hail been broken and Ihe laws of the House had been strictly adhered to. There had been no disorder throughout ihe proceedings until Mr Forbes 1 1 a< 1 mov'd Hie closure. There had been no minislerial explanation of the clause. There had imdoulUedly been n strong feeling because Hie opposition considered the chairman had acted harshly. Mi- Coates said I hat lintil the in - cident occurred the conduct of the debate had been everything that could have been desired. It was clear that Hie opposition was endeavouring lo delay the closure, of the Bill. lie

personally had complained to the chairman from time to time, but the latter refused to accept the closuio motion. , , Labour members complained trial there had been insufficient opportunitv for discussion. Mr Smith said the subject under discussion at the time had been the main topic of the debate for 24 hours. It had been discussed on the short title ar.d other occasions. He had honestly used his discretion in the acooption of the closure motion. Mr Fraser was summoned baok to the ohamber and Mr Speaker asked him whether he would withdraw the words complained of and express his regret. Mr Fraser said he would respeot tne rules of the House and do so. He then again left the chamber at the request of Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker pointed out that it rested with the House 'to decide whether the position could be met by the acceptance of Mr Fraser’s withdrawal and Ills expression of regret. It was deoided on the motion of Mr Forbes that no further action be taken in view of Mr Fraser’s withdrawal and expression of regret, and after tho oommlttee had resumed Mr Smith and Mr Fraser shook hands.

Mr Semple was asked for an explanation of his use of the word “ cowardly." He said he had not so much directed it at the chairman as he had used it in a general sense with respect to the action in applying the olosure. He had not been asked to withdraw It. Mr Speaker: Do you do so now? Mr Semple: Yes. Mr Speaker said In view of Mr Semple's withdrawal the incident should dose. The House adjourned at 7.30 a.m. SLOW PROGRESS., OPPOSITION CONTINUED. CLAUSE AFTER CLAUSE FOUGHT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Saturday. There was no alteration in the rate of progress of the Sales Tax Bill through the committee stage when the House of (Representatives resumed at 9.30 o'clook this morning. From the section relating to securities members passed on to that deal- ' Ing with offences atid penalties, and Labour members continued a steady flow of criticism. Clause after clause was resisted to the point of forcing a division, and amendments were moved in some instances with the object of reducing penalties. The Opposition’s efforts to reject clauses were all unsuccessful and a similar fate attended their attempts to secure a reduction In fines. This section of the Bill was still under fire when the House adjourned at 1 p.m.

FAVOURS ALLEGED.

MEMBERS’ INSINUATIONS. ABSOLUTE DENTALS MADE, WELLINGTON, Friday. In the House of Representatives this evening an Insinuation that Ministers could not be expected to resist giving some favours to their friends led to a heated scene. The quarrel developed out bf an exception taken by several Labour members to a clause In the Sales Tax Bill which allows goods to be added to or be withdrawn from the exempted list by Order-ln-Councll. . Tho suggestion was made by Mr J. A. Lee (Labour—Grey Lynn) that someone going out to collect party funds might have pressure brought to bear on him to have exemptions made. lie did not say that would happen with the present Government, but tie wanted to point out the danger of such a clause. Joining In the Labour protests Mr R A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) said the clause was similar- to some opposed by the late Mr Massey when lie was in the Opposition. It was dangerous and vicious In the extreme. Only a perfect Minister —an immaculate man—could stand up to pressure that would be brought to bear, and Mr Wright did not believe that that perfect Minister existed. “ Suppose a friend of the Minister conies along, a strong political supporter, as they do,” continued Mr Wright. “ Suppose lie says to the Minister, ‘lt is time you did something for me.’ A Minister would have to lie a strong man to refuse to do that.”

3’lie Minister of Finance, Mr Coates Do what?

Mr Wright: To say lo that man that he would not help him. Mr Coates: We don’t do that sort of thing, and you know It. Mr Wright: 1 don’t know It. You had belter he careful.

Mr Coates: 1 challenge you or anyone else to say that we favour any of our political supporters. • Mr Wright: You had better he careful. I don't want to tell tales out of school.

Mr Goales: You chatter like an old la'd v.

Mr Wright: 1 am not such an old lady as the Minister. " It Is commonly rumoured that one prominent political organiser lias been going round trying to set up a traffic hi titles and ,1.P.-ships," said Mr P. Fraser (Labour—-Wellington Central).

" That is a statement of- a most scandalous character,” declared the Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. “It is a statement that should not he made in any decent gathering. I have never made any appointment of Justices of the peace except on the recommendation of a member of this House.”

Mr 11. S. S. Kyle (Government — Rlcrarton) : Wrong! .Mr Cobbe: There have been two or three appointments on the recommendation of heads of departments, such as the Public Trustee, who wanted one or two of li is managers appointed. Minister’s EmphaUo Reply. A very emphatic reply to Mr Wright’s allegations was made by Mr C, cates. “I challenge the member fo ’ Wellington Suburbs to expose anything he saw wrong when he was a colleague of mine and, 1 might add, a valuable colleague for whom I had great affection," said Mr Coates. " What lias happened to him since I rio nol know, hut. lie should certainly not be silling where he Is in this House, lie should not hr eavesdropping on lus colleagues, and after the opinions he had expressed this evening, he lias no right to lie where tie I,*:, condemning men who are having a [Continued In next oniunuv-l

rotten time and doing their best in face ot' heavy head winds. " l have great respect for the Opposition, but t don’t like one who sits behind you and shoves knives into your back all the time. 1 know lie doesn't think what he lias said in his heart of hearts. 1 will let the matter rest, at that.” “ The Minister has made a direct personal attack on me,” said Mr Wright. “He says I have no right to sit. on this seat eavesdropping, l have never done such a thing and I challenge him to quote any case where I have. The Speaker of this House, and not the Minister, arranges for the seals, and 1 have been informed that once a member is given a scat he can hold It in whatever part of the Houseit may lie.”

The Leader of the. Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, then moved an amendment to this clause to remove from it the Cabinet’s powers to grant or refuse exemptions. Mr Coates: 1 should like to meet ll e opposition, but 1 cannot admit the .unemlmcnt, and I must ask the House to reject it. .Mr Coales announced after the supper adjournment that an ameinlnunt would be introduced to provide that nil t irders-n-Council dealing with exemptions should be laid on the table table within 1-1 days of the reassembly of the House and brought up for discussion at a suitable lime In Hie session. i m that understanding the amendment to delete references to the Order-ln-C.onne.lt in the disputed clause was not pressed,