STILL ON BUDGET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 229, 27 September 1935, Page 8

STILL ON BUDGET.

DEBATE DRAGS ON.

GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE.

CRITICS AND DEFENDERS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON", this day. A feature of the Budget debate today was the entry of the Prime Minister, who made a survey of the causes of the depression and the measures adopted by the Government. He replied to tho statement by Hon. Downie Stewart in Dunedin that just prior to the raising of the exchange rate tho Primo Minister had pledged hiinsolf not to interfere with it. Mr. Stewart later spoko briefly, stating that ho was surprised thrft Mr. Forbes had taken exception to his remark, as in contradicting him he contradicted practically every business organisation at the timo tho exchange rate was raised. Other speakers in the debato were Messrs. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn), H. M. Campbell (Government, Hawko's Bay), P. W. Schramm (Labour, Auckland East), A. Harris (Government, Waitcmata), H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East), E. Semplo (Labour, Wellington East), and W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier). Twenty-two members havo now spoken, nine on tho Government side, j.welvo from Labour and one Independent. The first speaker to-day was Mr. Lee. He said that war might solve the financial problem, as profit and not welfare ■would have tho supremo consideration. There would bo money for uniforms and war materials, but that was not the sort of thing that helped people to enjoy a decent standard of life. The Government said four years ago that the real task was to relieve unemployment and provide a remedy, but the disease had only been intensified in tho interim. They were told that wage cuts had nothing to do with unemployment, but that had been responsible for staggering figures. Tho total given out as the number of men out of work he believed was not tho real total. There were those who were . receiving old age pensions and thousands of others who were disqualified from receiving anything from the unemployed fund. There were tradesmen who could not use picks and shovels. What was their position? Thousands of others had to sponge on their families becauso their sons and daughters were working and they themselves were barred from receiving help in conscience. Each year 7500 boys left school. In 1028 thero were over 10,000 1 apprentices, but this year there were only 3300. Despite predictions of prosperity 7000 more people left New Zealand in the last three months than thq number that arrived in the Dominion. The Budget might have a bright spot or two in respect to pension restorations, but he was of the opinion that later on the burnt-out soldier would have to be treated in the same way as the man who was totally disabled at the war and given a pension. Burnt-out workmen would also have to bo considered «.s well as the soldier.

Congratulations to the Minister of Finance on the Dominion's successful emergence from the depression were extended by Mr. Campbell. * "We have a greater number of people paying their way," he said. "The Budget is balanced. "We have a comfortable credit balance and we have restored the pensions cuts and a large slice of the wages tax, as was promised." Having in this way given the Government commendation for its efforts, Mr. Campbell added the reservation that there should have been a little further taxation relief, particularly in the way of exempting more articles from the Bales tax to help small tradesmen. Proper Housing Policy. Mr. Schramm referred to the housing problem, saying it was high time the Government, in conjunction with the city councils, carried out a proper policy. The problem could only be tackled on a large scale and he was glad to notice in the Budget that the Government proposed to do something. However, he hoped the people would not-be satisfied with merely that statement. If tho Government spent millions of pounds on the. proper housing of the people it would be money well spent. Many people were being evicted and the private landlord could not be expected to carry hie tenants on his back as ho had rates and other payments to meet. Referring to tho police, he expressed the hope that the 7J per cent restoration would not affect them adversely, as the last restoration had. Mr. Armstrong blamed the Government for the loss of the savings of the workers, for a large number of insurance policies either lapsing or being abandoned, for more than half q>f the farmers of New Zealand being unable to pay either their interest or principal, and for more than half the returned soldier settlers being in arrears with their rent and being in an impossible position. Mr. Semple referred to the humanitarian legislation of the Liberal party and referred to the speech attributed to Captain Russell in 1901 stating that when Richard John Seddon died'a monument should be erected to him containing the epitaph: "He bribed the people." Considered insults were in those days hurled willy-nilly at the Prime Minister, a statesman whose record would never die. The present Prime Minister had naid that wage reductions would not increase unemployment. At that time ■there were 4000 registered unemployed, but that number grew to 75,000. The statement had been made by Mr. Forbes at random. The Prime Minister changed his mind too often. Mr. W. IT. Field (Government, Otaki): What is the pood of having a mind if yon can't change it. Mr. Semple: The member for Otaki has chucked a somersault or two in his time and that is the reason ho is apologising for tho Prime Minister. I