MOTION REJECTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 248, 27 July 1940, Page 2

MOTION REJECTED

PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATES.

VOTING on party lines.

(Abridged from Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 20 In the House of Representatives today Sir Alfred Ransom (National, Paliiatua) seconded the amendment moved by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) that the Public Works Department estimates ho referred back to the Government for further consideration with a view to effecting substantial reductions in expenditure. Mr J. Robertson (Labour, Masterton) challenged members of the Opposition to state what terms of expenditure they would cut out in their own electorates.

Mr S. G. Holland (National, Christchurch North): That is the Government’s job. * Mr Robertson said members of the Opposition were inconsistent. They were only too willing to see votes for other members out down, but they were not so happy about it when asked to cut down expenditure in their own electorates.

This drew a storm of protest from the Opposition benches, but the Prime Minister said that members knew that these arguments were only party tricks and it was no use becoming annoyed about them. Mr Robertson said that the country would not he fit for heroes to live in if development work was cut out. ThP Prime Minister said the amendment would bring the country back to the depression period, with its unemployment, starvation, and soup kitchens —a period the Opposition was responsible for. Creating Another depression. Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga) maintained in support of the amendment that the Government, by its policy was deliberately building up conditions which would create another depression. People would not whimper if money were required for war purposes, he said, hut when the Government’s present programme was examined it would be found that New Zealand’s internal expenditure was still on a peace-time basis. Wo were proposing to spend great sums on loading, lie' said, hut at the same time were adopting a contradictory policy of petrol restrictions which was driving traffic off the roads. People in their resolution to assist the war effort were preparing to make sacrifices, but judging from the Government’s public works proposals it was apparently not prepared to make any sacrifice. ! Mr J. R. Roy (National, Clutlia) said the first job at the present time was to win the war. While the building of houses and the making of roads, etc., was very desirable, he thought that the dropping of such work was one of the sacrifices the people had to make under the present extraordinary circumstances. The function of the Government was to run the.country as a business. If revenue were needed for other purposes a readjustment should be made.

The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata (National, Eastern Maori), speaking of the rehabilitation of our men after the waradvocated that “the Government should take in hand some 50,000 or 60,000 acres in various parts of the Dominion for development work and this would be ready for occupation bv the Maori boys when they came home after we had won the war. Amendment Defeated. The amendment ivas forced to a division and Avas defeated by 36 A'otes to 17, the voting being purely on party lines. v The Hon. R. Semple, in reply to the debate, emphasised the fact that a large number of public works for Avhich votes were required were started long before the present Avar began. So far as he know no neAV Avorks had begun since the commencement of Avar. He asked members of the Opposition to consider the position of the Minister in relation to public Avorks. During the present year he said more than 400 deputations had Avaited upon him and all had urged the expenditure of money on public Avorks in different parts of the country. Even since the present session of Parliament began, he said, 28 deputations had met him for a similar purpose. The Minister had to investigate all these requests carefully, and many of them were of an urgent nature.

Mr Semple contended that the greatest major work in' the country at present Avas irrigation. New Zealand required to have a larger population, and these additional people must be afforded opportunities such as irrigation Avould bring. He added that he Avould like to see thousands of British children brought to this country. The House then went into Committee of Supply and the Public Works Estimates totalling about £12,500,000 were passed Avithin approximately half an hour. Work for Next Week. The Prime Minister said the work lor next week Avould include the Supplementary Estimates and several Bill's, including the Washing-up Bill. He considered it desirable to complete as much business as possible by next Friday. Then be Avould like'members to consider Avhat length of recess they should have. He thought intervals of a fortnight might be suitable in the first instance, but he Avould meet the desire of the House in the matter. Whatever the interval Avas, if necessary, the House avouH he summoned at. any time. It Avas not only desirable but essential that the representatives of the people should meet from time to time during the present difficult period. Mr Hamilton said the Opposition was quite prepared to meet the suggestion for short adjournments. The Opposition asked the Government not to make too much use of emergency regulations or Ordors-in-Couneil. Excess profits, OA'orsoas funds and compulsory loans Avore matters that should be discussed by members. Regulations avcvc all right if the House Avas not in ses-

sion, hut if important matters could be discussejl they should be. The House adjourned at 5.37 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.