PARLIAMENTARY.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1931, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

THE HOUSE. ANOTHER. ALL NIGHT SITTING. FIFTY DIVISIONS CALLED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 1. Up till the adjournment of the House of Representatives for breaklast 'this morning,' the outstanding feature of the debate on the Finance Bill in Committee was the (number or divisions which totalled half a century.

The closure was applied on only thre e occasions, discussion on the amendments apparently being cut short, either in anticipation of this weapon being applied, or on account of fatigue of members. On all the issues, the Government had easy majorities. The amendments submitted were largely designed to exempt wage 8 and salaries on the lower levels from the operation of the cut, or to substitute a graduated scale of reductions for the flat rate, but at a later stage, Mr kSluvage 'moved to delete the reference to reduced grants to public bodies.

Reform members protested against the additional burden that would be placed upon country ratepayers if local bodies were deprived of ten per cent, of their subsidy. The Leader of the Labour Party euid the House had come to an inter, esting point, where there was an identity of interests on the part of the cross benches and the opposition. The Labour Party and Reform were ranged against the Government in resisting this clause.

Mr Coates; Oh no, not all of it. Air Holland said this was disappointing.

Air Forbes said he was prepared to excise the portion of the clause dealing with a reduction of subsidy on Local Bodies.

Labour members bitterly criticised the Prime Minister’s action in giving way to representations when they wer e supported by the Reform Party. The Labour Party also desired to afford relief' to country ■ ratepayers, but they regretted the Prime Minister had not been able to make the concessions when they were pleading on behalf of the workers on low. wages,, and their wives and children. They also regretted he did not give way with regard to the subsidy to Hospital Boards, because if he. did so he would enable reductions of nurses salaries to be. avoided.

Air Fraser described the Reform Party as being the Government without the responsibilities of Government. It was forcing its will on the country. The strong, silent men of the Government. were dancing like marionettes at the will of the Reform Party. The House adjourned at seven a.m. till nine a.m.

The Prime-Minister last nigh*-agreed to accept an amendment to add to the . Finance Bill, a subclause (simitar to that added to clause two of the Public ■ Expenditure Act 1922. Mr Coates stated this permitted the £ exemption of an association or society/* of railway employees from the operation of the Act. to enable its mem- j bers to arrange a reduction among themselves, and so long ns the net result was the equivalent of ten per cent, reduction, he could not see why the amendment should not be added. The amendment was adopted.

HOUSE RESUAIES

WELLINGTON,. April 1

The House resumed at nine

The Prime Minister’s amendment exempting th e local bodies from reduction of subsidies was adopted. Air Savage’s amendment was rejected by 32 to 18 and the clause passed. Fairly steady progress was made with the Committee stage of the Bill. WELLINGTON. April 1. The section of the Bill relating to the powers of the Arbitration Court was reached at 11 n.m. Labour members complained of the “repudiation agreements,” which, they contended was involved in the Government’s proposals. The House adjourned at 11.15 a.m. till 2.30 p.m., to enable the Address-in-Reply to be presented to the Gov-ernor-*Genei'al.