The Week in Parliament Our Parliamentary Correspondent writes: The interim
Budget has come and gone, opposed on at least four occasions in the division-lobby by rebel members of the Labour Party, who could not agree on items of the Purchase Tax. The actual items affected were boots, fabrics and clothes, which form an important part of the working man's outlay On one division the rebel numbers climbed to 67, but it was noticeable that members of the co-operative section took a leading part during the whole debate. Stalwart independents like Mr. T. E. Harvey and Miss Rathbone were found occasionally voting against the Government. But the official Labour Front Bench and Parliamentary Private Secretaries of Labour Ministers trooped solidly out with the Government supporters. Of course the tax was 3 compromise, and some party discipline was neces- sary. When later in the evening the expected debate on books and newspapers was reached, a most unexpected scene took place. Mr. Isaacs, a printer and trade unionist, rose to move that all taxation of the printed word should be deleted from the Bill. The Chancellor replied immediately and gave way on the whole front, books, music, periodicals and newspapers, and it was the wisest thing to do. At least a dozen members from all sides of the House went to bed and burned their speeches. The Chan- cellor realised that this tax offended the best interests of the country and its export trade, and ran counter to the policy of several other Government Departments.
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