"HALF STORY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 9

"HALF STORY."

MR. SAVAGE'S REPLY

BUDGET DISCLOSURES

BIG REVIVAL IN INDUSTRY. GOING FOR ITS LTFE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. r . The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, replying to the Opposition attack, said that the soothing syrup referred to by Mr. Coates was probably a desirable change from the castor oil periods ufidbr the previous Government. Mr. Savage said that Mr. Coates had referred also to doubtful railway projects. Was he referring to the famous loop which he understood Mr. Coates now wanted to have completed "if

"I advised that industry is going for its life." said Mr. Savage, "and that it cannot fill the orders, in spite of the disaster predicted by my friend. Then he said that there was a drain on the Consolidated Fund and reserves. I thought that he had cleaned up all the reserves Jong before his term of office had ended. Where there was a threepenny bit lying round he picked it up. I think we have made reasonable progress. We came into office eight months ago. The state of affairs then was like the Sahara desert. We had to start from practically nothing to get where we are to-day!"

Standing Together. It was true, I,lr. Savage added, that the Government had not been able to put all men to useful labour, and it was true that thousands were receiving sustenance who didn't receive anything at all when the Government took office. It was the desire of the Government that all men should be usefully employed, and if the members on the Opposition side were prepared to help to that end he would be very glad of it. If it was good to stand together for the defence of one's country it was equally good to stand together for the building of New Zealand. The way to solve the unemployment problem was to get the people fitted in to industry and services. They would only fit in with reduced hours of labour. * Why should some men work 50 hours a week while other men were drawing sustenance? He had a vision of the future. He could see the time when the wool farmer, as well as the dairy farmer, would not be dependent upon a fluctuating market abroad. Farmers Harnessed For Years. V

Mr. Coates had mentioned that the farmer was being compelled to do cerI tain things, proceeded Mr. Savage. That came badly from him. He had the far mer harnessed to his farm for five years. Under the Rural Mortgagors' Adjustment Act he had his standard of life ladled out to him. Every one in difficulties was invited to come into that parlour. "I am hoping in the future to see the other side of the picture," continued Mr. Savage. He referred to the Mortgage Readjustment Bill, which was to be introduced. It would help the farmer and give him a breathing space without doing an injustice to the mortgagee. The mortgagee's equity would be in his security,, winch would be based upon the guaranteed price. It was a question of doing justice to both sides. He wanted to stabilise the mortgagor's and tha mortgagee's equity. Homes mortgaged in the towns and cities had also to be dealt with. Some people had been hard in their criticism after hearing only half the story that was disclosed in the Budget. They did not know what was in the Adjustment Bill.

A reference by Mr. Savage to the ease of deserted wives brought forth the question from Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National. Riccarton) : What about deserted husbands ?

The Prime Minister replied that he did not know whether they should have a pension out of sympathy.

Mr. Coates: The right lion, gentleman :is quite impartial in this matter.

Mr. Savage: Quite impartial. Concluding, Mr. Savage said that he regarded the Budsret as the greatest Budget in New Zealand's history. The adjournment of the debate was moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Forbes.