DOMINION'S PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22166, 20 July 1935, Page 14

DOMINION'S PROGRESS

"ON A GOOD KEEL" RECONSTRUCTION MEASURES COMMENTS BY MINISTER "Now Zealand is on as Rood a keel to-day as most countries," said the Hon. A. Hamilton, acting-Minister of Finance, yesterday. All the Government's basic reconstruction measures had heen passpd and, although they had been fiercely attacked, time had noli proved them wrong. The coming session of Parliament, opening on August 29, was likely to be "short and sweet," said the Minister. He thought it would be a normal onis. continuing through September and October and possibly into the early part of November. He did not know of any major policy matters that would be brought down. The ordinary business of the Government had gone ahead, nothing having been held up during the absence in England of the Piimo Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Minister of Finance. Ht. Hon. J. G. Coates. Attacks had been made on the payment of high salaries and the sending of representatives overseas, but tlujse critics were greatly in the wtoiie from a business point of view, said Mr. Humilton. The benefits which New Zealand reaped as the lesult of the leaders of the Government going abroad would compensate for the expense a thousand times.

Referring to the meat agreement ju.';t concluded, Mr. Hamilton said he th night the results of the negotiations were much better than most people expected. "1 do not think any news co lid be better," he added, "unless it was news of a general rise in prices all round for primary produce."

Mr. Hamilton said he was unable to voice any opinion whether there was a possibility of further restoration of public service wage cuts. Matters such as thut depended on the financial position of the Government, and there were people who claimed that general taxation should be reduced first. The whole position would have to be sized up later.