BUDGET DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1940, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE

CONTINUED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WATERFRONT AND MINING CONDITIONS.

SECRET SESSION ON TUESDAY.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day

Five more speakers took part in the financial debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Since the start of the debate on Wednesday evening 14 speches have been made, seven by members of the Government, five by supporters of the Opposition, and one each by an Independent and a Democratic Labour representative. When the House resumes on Tuesday night after the weekend adjournment discussion on the Budget will be postponed and instead there will be a second secret session for the purpose of discussing the war situation in the light of developments since the Legislature last met in secret.

The main Opposition speaker was Mr Jull (Waipawa), who criticised the Government's handling of the waterfront situation and the mining dispute on the West Coast. He suggested that a public inquiry should be held into the appointment of the Waterfront Control Commission and the conditions under which it was operating. He said the Government had shown a weakness in dealing with the strike of miners that was most culpable and damaging to the country's interests. Mr Jull’s criticism brought forth an immediate reply from the Minister of Labour and Mines, Mr Webb. He defended the waterside workers and said they had worked extended hours on more than 100 ships since the commission had been appointed. The Minister did not indicate what action if any the authorities proposed to take against the miners on strike. The House rose at 5.20 p.m. till i..-0 p.m. on Tuesday.