MARATHON DERATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20001, 28 July 1939, Page 5

MARATHON DERATE

NEARLY A MONTH SEVENTY-THREE SPEAKERS ADDRESS-IN-REPLY PASSED CONCLUDING COMMENT DAIRY FUND DEFICIT (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The debating marathon which the House of Representatives has been enjoying for nearly a month came quietly to an end last night with the expected defeat of the Opposition noconfidence amendment by the anticipated result: 23 ayes, 43 noes. Two Independents entered separate lobbies, Mr. H. Atmore with Labour and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson with tlie Nationalists. Every member of the Opposition side nad spoken, the total number of speakers being 73 and nearly all enjoying a liberal extension of their half-hour limit. The only Government members present not contributing were the Hon. W. E. Parry, tne Hon. P. C. Webb, Mr. F. W. Schramm and Mr. A. S. Richards. The discussion in the final stages Jacked liveliness, except for an attack on the Government by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Nat., Riccarton). Dairy Fund Deficit Mr. H. G. Dickie (Nat., Patea), one of the earlier speakers, discussed the dairy fund deficit, his questions to the Minister making it clear that the original understanding was that any shortage of one season was to be made good by subsequent credits while maintaining a good standard for the producer. "Mr. C. A. Burrell (Lab., Hamilton), who had asked the Government to take a vote by dairy farmers on the continuance of the guaranteed price scheme, urged that the issue be confined to a clear indication as to whether the existing system was to be voted in or out. When the amendment had been disposed of, the mover of the Address-in-Reply, Mr. R. M. MacFarlane (Lab, Christchurch South), briefly concluded the debate, the House rising at 9.4 p.m„ after the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, had obtained a promise from the acting Leader of the House, the Hon. P. Fraser, that ne would announce next week's business when the sitting resumed.