PARLIAMENT PASSES BUDGET.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1567, 22 June 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT PASSES BUDGET.

A situation unique in Parliament - ary history occurred in the House on Tuesday night, when the .National Cabinet’s War Budget, came up for discussion. When the House met at 7.30 to commence the debate nobody suspected that the first stage would 1)0 over in a few seconds. The following' stage —the passing of Uic first item on the Estimates —took ‘2O minutes, though it has often occupied three days. The most moderate estimate of the saving of Parliament's time is a fortnight. The position was not planned, it. arose out of a carious combination oi circumstances.

Crowded galleries showed bow the public anticipated big gun tiring, hut tin' only voice heard was Mr Speaker's. He put the question, called for (lie ayes and noes, and declared the motion carried, and the House went into commit lei 1 . Everyone looked aghast at tins unprecedented situation. Then laughter showed the relief of (he House at a gigantic lei-off. Curious eyes turn-

ed to La hour benches, hut no Labour members wove (here. Mr McCombs, who was in the chamber when the question was put, got to his seat a few seconds too late. As the chamber burred with small talk and muffled laughter, Mr Willy valiantly kept- a discussion goingon the first, item while members collected and scattered. The debate never wandered beyond two points raised by Mr Witty and Mr Anderson. The first item passed, and the House rose at 7.'id.

“I think this is a great compliment to the National Government,” declared the Premier to a press representative. “It has never happened before in my time. It is not only tin' passing of tin* Financial Statement, Iml an Imprest Bill and the lirst item of the Estimates. It is a big saving of time and the country’s money. Everyone can say what he really requires when legislation comes down on the taxation proposals.”