IN THE HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 5

IN THE HOUSE

SALES TAX BILL MR FORBES AND LABOUR PARTY* (Per Press Association— Copyright.) WELLINGTON, February. 15. In the. House of'Representatives yesterday afternoon 1 tblie. Small 1 Farms Bdl was out through the remaining nt ages chid passed. The Bill was amended in Committee at the instigation of .the Hon. J. U Coates with the object of providing for an appeal to the Supreme Court against the Magistrate’s decision in: proceedings with, respect to the compulsory acquisition and disposition of unused lands.

Other minor amendments relating to this section of. -the Bill! were adopted. Mr Coates moved the second reading of''the Sales Tax Bill 1 and explained its ‘clauses at some" length. He said that the additional revenue to be obtained as h- result «'6f. "the .tax was urgently needed" in view of the portion of the country’s finances. It was admitted that’the new taxation was formidable; but he. was convinced-that the people wdivld respond to the call that was being- made tot-hem. The Trader of the Opposition (Mr pEp©,; (Holland), said that the .real -weight ’of the sales - tax fell - -in the main on the poorer' peopL, while the wealthy people escaped much' more lightly thatl' xvould ‘ he the : case' if ( a graduated system of Income taxation were to operate. .•' ; '... ( JThe Premier, the’ Rt. Hon.’ G: W - . Forbes, said that it' was part of the Labour Party’s programme to endeavour to embarrass the Government politically niid financially, and the criticisms of its'members could be put aside as criticisms of men whose only consideration was how much 1 party capital' they 'coukl make out - of the Government’s • attempts to meet the difficult situation. The debate was qdlourned and''the House 'rose at 'II.If', o’clock. 1 ; ' * v