BUDGET DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1939, Page 7

BUDGET DEBATE

CONCLUDING IN HOUSE TONIGHT

SOME BILLS INTRODUCED. DROP IN THE WOOL CLIP PREDICTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Proceedings in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon were held up for a brief period on account, of the dislocation of Main Trunk railway services by a washout in the King Country. The House assembled at the customary time, 2.30 p.m., but after the formal opening with prayers, which were read by the Chairman of Committees, Mr R. McKeen an immediate adjournment was taken till "the ringing of the bells.” The Speaker, the Hon W. E. Barnard, and 13 members of Parliament, including Mr J. Thorn (Government. Thames), who was scheduled to be the first speaker in the financial debate yesterday, were passengers on the Monday night train from Auckland. They were conveyed from the subsidence just south of Te Kuiti by rail-car and arrived at Wellington at 2.13 p.m., the adjournment giving them time to obtain a meal and spruce up after their arduous trip. Additional legislation was introduced yesterday. One of the measures was a Summary Penalties Bill, which prevents arbitrary imprisonment in default of the payment of fines except in certain prescribed circumstances, and an Adhesive Stamps Bill, which legal ■ ises the control of revenue stamps by the Post and Telegraph Department. The first Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to Statutes Revision Committee. Further contributions were made to the Financial Debate. This is to conclude tonight, with the reply of the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, to arguments raised during the discussion. Yesterday’s Opposition speakers included Mr T. D. Burnett (Temuka), who predicted a drop in this year’s wool clip. The briefest speech in the debate was made by the AttorneyGeneral, the Hon H. G. R. Mason, who spoke for about five minutes. His remarks were confined to a reply to a statement made by Mr Burnett. The House adjourned at 10.28 p.m. till today. Ministerial answers to questions and minor Bills on the Order Paper will be taken this afternoon.