LABOUR PROTEST

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19407, 6 November 1934, Page 7

LABOUR PROTEST

UNNECESSARY HASTE.

APPROPRIATION BILL. MOTION . FOR URGENCY. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The introduction of the Appropriation Bill in the House to-night caused something of a surprise, and strong protests were voiced by Labour members, when the Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates,' moved that urgency be accorded to it and also the Finance Bill No. 3, introduced last week. The motion, however, was carried by 33 votes to 19. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, said the Labour Party did not know the Appropriation Bill was coming down to-night. The order paper was not yet cleared of other bills and the Appropriation 'Bill could be held over. Mr. Coates said there was nothing out of the way in the bill. It merely voted the usual supply. He then moved the urgency motion. Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour —'Grey Lynn) : You are clearing out before the Native Affairs report comes up. Mr. Coates: Nonsense. After iie had explained the clauses in the bill, Mr. Coates said he could assure the Leader of the Opposition that no discourtesy was meant in bringing down the Appropriation Bill without advising him beforehand. There were certain facts he was unable to explain that necessitated its introduction that night. In any case, the Government was quite entitled to bring down an Appropriation Bill at any stage. The Native Affairs Commission’s report would be discussed on Tuesday and the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Bill on Wednesday. ■Mr. Savage: What about Hie Cinematograph Amendment Bill? Mr. A. Harris (Government —Waitemata) : The Cinematograph Amendment Bill is a very important bill. Mr. Coates: That is a heavy bill. I have an important Companies Bill to come yet. , Cinematograph Bill. “ I am strongly of opinion that this House should not rise until the Cinematograph Bill has been dealt with, said Mr. Harris. “ I want to say quite frankly and earnestly that I should regard any attempt to slaughter the bill as a grave dereliction of duty on the part of the Government, and I feel it my duty to stand up In my place in the House and say so.” Mr. Savage said he wished to endorse the statement made by Mr. Harris. It was noticeable that during the last few days the bill had gradually been finding its way down to the bottom of the Order Paper. ‘1 want to say quite definitely that if this 'bill is not passed, then it is the responsibility of the Government Itself, and not the responsibility of this House,” said Mr. Savage. “It is just as ■ well that everyone should know that If we are not prepared to spend ten minutes on a matter of this description, we should not be here. Second Reading Passed. The Appropriation 'Bill was the standard bill, the 'figures in It representing the only material alteration from last year’s bill. It appropriates £'27,895,501 from the Consolidated Fund, the Public Works Fund and other accounts to the services of the year ending on March 31 next. In moving its'second reading, the Minister of 'Finance, Air. Coates, surveyed the Budgetary operations for the first half of the current 'financial year, confirming his earlier expectation that the year would end with a small surP The debate on the bill was still in progress at midnight, by which time it had developed Into an undisguised stonewall by Labour members. Eventually, however, the bill was read a second time;