PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

THE SALES TAX BILL.

MORE RAPID PROGRESS MADE.

FEW CLAUSES HELD OVER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Discussion of the Sales Tax Bill in Committee was resumed by the House of Representatives this afternoon and was continued in the evening. Progress was more rapid in the evening, and, although Labour members called for a divsion on the majority of clauses, some were passed on the voices. The section of the bill relating to evidence in connection with the procedure under the legislation had been completed by 9.30, and substantial progress made with the last section. A few clauses were held over pending the introduction at a later stage of amendments to them. Progress was reported at 10.20, when everything except the clauses which were held over and the schedules had been passed. Unexpected developments resulted in the adjournment, being taken at 10.30 this evening. It appears that the Government and Labour Whips had entered into a compact that the discussion In Committee o:i the Bill, which caused the long stonewall last week,' would he kept within reasonable limits. The attendance of leading Labour members at a protest meeting held in the city this evening also robbed the debate of some of its former sting, and Air H. E. Holland, Air M. J. Savage and several other Labour members arrived back at the House just in time to witness the passing of the Anal clause in the bill. Although the G9th and final clause has been passed, the House will have to retrace its steps to-morrow’, for seven clauses were held over for redrafting. They will appear in revised form to-morrow. The House has also to deal with the schedule of exemptions.

The Prime Minister, Air Forbes, stated That the supplementary Order Paper containing the amendments was not yet ready. The first business to be taken to-morrow would be the consideration of these amendments, after which the House would proceed to deal with the schedules. It was learned late this evening that the Government proposes to insist on the bill being put through all the remaining stages at to-morrow’s sitting. ‘‘Certain points have yet to be placed before the Cabinet to-morrow, so I am unable to indicale at -this stage the nature of the changes to be made in the schedule of exemptions,” said the Minister of Customs, Mr Coates this evening. Air Coates said, however, that certain items now in the schedule of exemptions would be removed, while other items would be added. He said the guiding principle in framing the schedule was to ensure that foodstuffs in common use would not be subjected to extra charge. Air Forbes gave notice to-day of his intention to move that the House sit from 2.30 p.m. until midnight daily. Including Mondays and Saturdays, for the remainder of the session.

ORDERS-IN-COUNCIL.

' PREVENTING STONEWALLING. AID TO HASTEN LEGISLATION. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The likelihood of the Government making greater use of Orders-in-Council for the administration of its policy was indicated by the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, this evening, in referring to the tactics of the Labour Party in stonewalling the passage of the Sales Tax Bill. Mr Forbes said he realised fully the signitlcance of such a statement, but it was perfectly apparent that no Government could tolerate a continuance of the delaying tactics which endangered proper consideration of legislation placed before Parliamen t. Mr Forbes added that all regulations made by a Government under an Ad of Parliament were tabled early in the following session, thus enabling the House to discuss them and move amendments. The Orders-in-Counoil would ultimately come before Parliament, but their use would prevent the parliamentary machine being used at Is was at present to hinder the progress of legislation by stonewalling.