MEMBERS' PROBLEMS

Evening Star, Issue 19658, 10 September 1927, Page 2

MEMBERS ' PROBLEMS

SHOULD PARTY GOME FIRST 1 INCOME TAX INTERLUDES. [Fnon Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, September 9. The aftermath of the division over the Land and Income Tax Bills came ’ in the.,: House of Representatives this afternoon, when interesting explanations were made by two Government members, one explaining why he had' voted for the measures, though he did not fully approve of them, and the other justifying his straight-out opposition throughout. Sir John Luke, who had voted for the Bills, admitted that they were hitter ones to swallow by any Goviny raent member representing a.city. eX torate, hut he had to consider tb. country’s difficulties. “ I would rathex walk out of the House than break faith witli the Government on financial matters,” declared Sir John. “I would not care a hang about voting against the Government in- connection with the meat business, or . many of their policy questions, but when it comes to providing money to carry on the administration, then I am with them.” A Voice: Vote for the Government, right or wrong? f Sir John Luke repeated that it was question of helping the Government with its finances. Mr A. Harris (Government member for Waitemata) showed some resentment over the previous speaker’s declaration of a Government member’s duty. He said that as one elected to support the Government ho was in honor pledged to vote with it on a noconfidence motion, but if a Government member was to go blindly into the lobby and vote with the Government — Sir John Luke: I confined myself to finance. Mr Harris: I will confine myself to finance, and say that if the hen. gentleman feels it his duty to support the Government when he knows it 1 3 wrong, then I say he is wrong. 4 member is elected to fill a definite and • wider sphere, and should not be a mere voting machine on finance or any other matters. If he is not ,to have an opinion of his own, but must support tho Government on every occasion, we do not need a Parliament as constituted. All we want is ten or twelve members of an executive, and a few secretaries to run the country. Mr Wilford: “Theirs not to reason why ” Mr Harris: “ Yes, ‘my party, right or wrong.’ ” He explained that he had felt it his duty to vote against the Government because he believed the measures were inimical to the interests of tho community. It was particularly inopportune to impose fresh taxation, and it was in opposition to the de--dared policy of the Government. The first essential to bring about renewed prosperity was reduced taxation, which would counteract the feeling of pessimism. _ Mr Downie Stewart: You still urge that it should be reduced? Mr Harris: Yes. The Minister: Through tho,tariff? Mr Harris: Yes. I was generally thinking of the tariff. The Prime Minister has said we are turning the corner, and this would have been a splendid master stroke of the Minister oi Finance, if he had said: “I am se satisfied that things are getting bad to normal that T can reduce taxation." Tho Hon. W. Nosworthy: What would have happened if things did not come right? Mr Harris: The feeling of optimism would have had an immense effect on the people, and would have created such confidence that tbines would have improved. THE HITTER PILL. “ I was amazed when I heard the member for Wellington North speak against the Bill this afternoon,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland') in the course of a speech in which he charged the Government with having broken its promise. /‘The member for Wellington North said the Bill was a hitter pill. _ The point is, however,, that he is going to swallow this bitter pill, regardless of the effect. There arc bound/ to he evil effects if lie does swallow it, I am asked what tho evil effects will be. I think one of tho effects will almost certainly be the disappearance of the member for Wellington North from this Chamber after the next General Election. (Laughter.)