HOT TALK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 10

HOT TALK.

J'lwArM 7 BUDGET DEBATE,

V fMR. ISIt^^N'.^IJLBOUB* - ..,il* ' r ' ' ■/■'*:s:'-■;

THE? JORDAN,

?s.?(Bjr--"Telegraph. Reporter.}

' The debate'" on the Budget was. resumed itorday;.by Hockly (Rotorua), who said there hadv been no real criticism of the Governthent. It had Tjebn swd' the'Governmentvhad no land IpoHey. "Well, it had the freehold policy, ..\and his" opinion "was that the land r , ..policy..of the ; Labour party would, for ,', all, practical, purposes,'be a dismal failure. ' The ~ farmers' of Franklin had '.. shown they would have nothing whatever to do with it. The' Labour party had, tho .objective, of nationalising the land. Mr. Holland: Socialisation. ~ Mr. Hockly: The difference is merely i • a ..play on words.' National endowment, ".», continued Mr/ Hockly, did not serve .the purpose, for ..which it. was intended, , as hundreds of thousands of acres of .these'endow—lent lands were lying idle. 2The; Labour party's declared ;t that if the farntergot 1 the full fruits of his' labour,there would.be nothing left ..for the mortgagee. Unless the Labour party was prepared to buy the mortgagee out for cash, this "full fruits of •'.; his labour and ..exeytion" for the farmer " was so many words. The Labour party "-•promised: "absolute security of tenure" under its "usehold" policy. Where would the security of tenure be if the farmer tenant of the "usehold" did not pay his 5-. per -cent?' "Absolute security" of tenure meant that a man could not be disturbed under any' circumstances. The House, had heard tirades of abuse against the mortgagee, but where would New Zealand be to-day had not thousands of its farmers made their way and improved their land by the aid of borrowed capital. The policy of the Labour party in regard to the ; financial interests was one' of repudia- .' tion, - and,by its State" purchase'scheme -'-it'was going to.shut out the public market and fix its own price—to be paid in bonds! It, proposed to issue bonds for £200,000,000, which it con- - .sidered the fair capital value of the land in "New. Zealand, which, at 5 ". percent, would mean the payment of '~ £10,000,000 annually for interest, and another £10,000,000 for ultimate re* demption. - . \ . Checking the Interrupter. , Being frequently interrupted by questions and interjections from the Labour corner, Mr. Hockly appealed to the Speaker for The interjections (mild in nature) continued and the Speaker, remarking that one or two members were constantly interjecting, said he would'riaye no alternative, if it did not | cease, either to name . these members upon -the.- whole House the penalty of prohibiting, interjections altogether. -•-.-.' » Mr._ Hockly. went on to commerit on the Socialistic'programme of the Labour party, ranging from the nationalising of. shipping to free medical attention and legal advice. He declared that, even if it got into, power, the Labour Government would be unable to find anyone to advance them any money for such projects on. the, strength of. their own dquptfui 'security. ? " . ;• pealing with the Board, Mr. Hockly commented .on, s its small. revenue. There had not been much expenditure during "'-the' last year, • owing to difficulties experienced • by local bodies in. financing their .share of cost. If the work of "the board was. to be* efficiently carried out, there must be ' more revenue provided. While not altogether - abandoning the motor vehicles tax, he favoured the imposition of- a ~, .petrol tax, under, which heavy vehicles be made to pay a much fairer share of the upkeep of the roads which they so . badly damaged. He would like to see a petrol tax side by side with a reduced motor vehicles tax,' a reasonable scale of exemptions being fixed in regard, to tho latter. | The'" petrol tax existed in 38 out of the 48 States of U.S.A., and it was also applied in Canada, where a considerable revenue was also derived for kroading by- the. State ~ control, •. of >; liquor. %}' !, * i "■(•"l.- ',>' • •'; * »; ' v \ '.'. ,-.'' A"hot'a"nd s'cathirig "'attack'* ;-v on' "the Labour party by Mr. Isitt (Christchurch Noßth), who .. said that, thenarty sought W uhited^Kbour .'party andfamalgamationi v 0 unions so/that it could take the public of New Zealand by the throat and enforce their demands. ; They could never make Socialistic revolution harmonise with the mantle they claimed of the great Liberals qf ; . the past—harmonise with the love of' country and pride of race, which formed the inspirations of' the great work those men of the past had done for the Dominion, and the world. -The Go-Slow Weapon. ;:■ Mr. Holland, replying "ito the hon. /member-;for Gisborne, admitted that, if '"'' 'tinder the land system he was advocating the farmer .got his due, nothing, would be .left- for.-the. mortgagee, continued Mr: Isitt. Does the Revolutionary Socialistic party deliberately, advocate 1 a system that they think will benefit the , farmers, but rob all the mortgagee's of the "money, borrowed frdiri them ? He denies that "Go slow" -is practised in New Zealand. It is, a denial that con-~ tradicts "facts known to us all. One of -; the W e ßiUgtentChristch.urch ferry boats was recently plastered with notices advocating "Go slow." I have never heard t ; *be hon. member's followers. - condemn ';* J&o slow* ;as:.di.shonest,. subversive -of true manhood, and an utterly unworthy ' -freappn to.use. .Will they condemn it now, or by silence give it their consent? ~ The . Revolutionary Socialists demand from the Government, huge and imme- ,, djate expenditure that.'.they know ritf Government can possibly meet, in order to increase the discontent pf the worker and win votes Can they deny this! ; ; They have condemned thia Government for excessive, borrowing. WiU they tell •—-T^tnr-definitely"Where- the "money" for this _J*HS^* U ™-i^- 9 - comle from?...Withone "exception, these hon. members united in sympathy s_d condolenwHq/'therßussian jSoyjet.over the S j? deSth 6Fthe v nionßter.Lenin—-a man who; - w ho viola ted every principle of. democracy, who the' right of ppblic meet- — -'liigs," frfee' speech, and the Press, if hos- | ,_t3e_to.him,. .How does.this- square with V ', their recent championship of Lyons, and J their protest against the suppression of revolutibnarvHterature here? How does § wifjr profession of -' principle T The hon. members of .-. the. ■Revolutionary Socialist be .loyal. They take the - 1 - data* of allegiance to the King. When ~~" "Hebeliion broke out, their official ■cial organ, the "Maorilahd Worker," /■•' rejoiced that this was the "first step in the breaking-Up of the British Empire," • The': other day the chief promoter of -their.Socialistic -Sunday-schools stated that he would rather pray for a weasel

than for a" _3ng. ' When the" Prince"" of: Walesi _& i: _e& to • thVthrbiie, visited this Dominion, the "Maoriland Worker" held, him up -to ridicule. Now, if "The or the . < 'Lyttelton• Times" printed MnfJmbidtß;'6f&His.kind, with what vigour and Indignation would; Reformers and Liberals repudiate them! Why have we never heard one word of, disavowal or, condemnation from ; the hon.. members on my left? If they are loyal—Why?r .Have- they . abandoned their claim to v' industrial.. Parliaments, or do ! they.'still:,want ( the' present 'system of Parliamentary Government broken up and industrial : Parliaments established?. .. • "''''*_'. Land and Immigrants. Mr. Jordan, continuing, after his attack on Mf» Isitt; reported elsewhere, made reference to the Minister, who weirit to Auckland and spoke regarding silk stockings. He spoke of what he was looking for. ' • '.' v . '_•'• '"' '" - The...Minister of Health:. That's your. evil mind. Mr. Jordan: That's'.What I thought about you.. . '~, .. ' ' Mr. Speaker (sternly): Order, Mr. Jordan went on to complain about the Government allowing so many thou-' sands of acres of land to go put of cultivation, while ' Bringing immigrants into the country with nothing for them t° do. He declared that while members did not get. a large salary for the year's work, some of them did not'do, a year's work. - Labour members were occupied in the business of their constitutents all the year »ound.-- Last session he heard members' of other parties saying: "Let us get done here, and go home to our business." Some had shops, some ' had businesses j some had- farniW Their whole business should be Parlia.mentary all the time and should be occupied in the country's work. The country could■; not be run as a" sideline by members who spent most of their time in their own 'work. $ In conclusion, Mr. Jordan emphatically denied the charges of disloyalty and irreligion against' the Labour party, which he claimed was misrepresented constantly, wilfully and maliciously by its opponents. Mr. Isitt roser"to make an' explanation, and he declared that he had no hatred of the Labour members as individuals, only hatred 'of their principles. (Derisive laughter.) Mr. Holland: You don't expect >us to believe that? v The Burden of Debt. New Zealand's increasing debt was referred to by Mr. S. J. Smith (Tarabaki), who said', without any disrespect fo the Minister many people in this country viewed with serious doncern, the fact that the portfolio of was- held the present hon. gentleman. The Minister did not have the experience necessary to enable the finances of the country, to be dealt with in an efficient manner.; Dealing with taxation Mr. Smith said- : there was one man who made £56,000 out «>f wool and did not pay a single penny income tax on it. Income tax had been reduced £394,000, and men entitled to pay the tax did riot do so. On the*, other •' hand small farmers . badly treated. Last' year the Govern-" merit took an average of 10/ off his taxation, and then taxed the farmer's motor car to the extent of £3 2/. Minister: What about the abolition of the toll gate in Tardnaki? Mr. Smith: What have you in itsplace?' '■;-." The Prime Minister: The Highways Bpard. X f ' ' ; j-Mr. SmiihJ; jils the Prime',Minister gling -tcMake -credit; for that? ' The Prime Minister: Yes. J (j: Mr. Smith: The Small farmersf are" entitled to. greater consideration. What, do you find in the Auckland district? Mr. Poland (OhinemUri): M (Laugh, ter.) si£i ■■: ;.) 1 .i 1L;, 5 Smiths i and unprogre.ssive people having money spent on "them. The highways money is being spent In Auckland.' while' the progressh-e people" of my electorate go without. This Government's legislation had always been opposedj to the small farmer. The sale of fertilisers was allowed by the GovernWieht .to be in the hands of a ring.. The country. spends half a million to' acquire the rights of Nauru, and brought the raw material here for private enterprise £q charge farmers 'whatever they liked for it. __ The fertiliser; companies did not want to deal direct with the farmer, ''but?"' preferred to deal lairqugh agents, the agents ; could get Ja rake further, tax the farriief. "-.■'.. , ■ Bored By Boards. ■v;iAs7to all these boards set up by the Government/ the public was ; bored to death' with them, The Meat Board levied over £29,000 from the producers. These boards, by the way, never failed to do a little canvassing for the Reform party ; when- they'-came to Taranaki. Did the Meat Board justify itself? The meat it sent to England might.'make more appeal to Britishers if wrapped in British, instead of Japanese made.wrappers. . / The Government having practically exhausted the finances available in the Old Coantry, was going to make a, borrowing raid on Ne\? Zealand, said Mr. Corrigan (Patea). It was a deplorable .financial position. If they went On the local market they would divert money which should be available for other purposes thari lending to the Government. It was at present impossible for a man on the land to raise money, iand almost- impossible for, local bodies. The Government had pledged New Zealand securities to such .an extent, that, borrowers looked with suspicion on this country as security.. The incidence •of taxation was altogether wrong. Taxation should be placed pn the shoulders of those best; able to bear it, and should* be' fixed by .taking "the whole of a man's income into consideration. The' Government had refused to go in for' an agricultural bank because the financial institutions <of -this country- kept;, them in power; We Jiad been under the ; heel, of. the-s financial, institutions too long and: Would ■ be' |kept 'there as long as we-cpuld be. It' was said;that the Government owned . one third of the Bank of-'New- Zealand, and that this was well worth owning. ,X so," why not own" the" other'tW'thrrds-'-Hnd turn~i?' ..,< ... The opinion" of" IffriCnC •Moriteith (WelUnirton-'Eastfwas tfiat it wa« of all thines '. detrimental r to l while all things, favourable were ostentatiouslyparaded, was being progsess was made in land settlement. $tie people who; came into New Zealand were remaining in the cities >ftr-this reasons ; •