BUDGET FACTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 11

BUDGET FACTS.

UNINSPIRING DAY. ORTHODOX BACK-BENCHERS. RECITAL OF FIGURES. UVv I "11 irrn|> lj. I'.irllnnirntary Reporter.) WKLUNdTO.Y, Friday. \||"|- -« ~,010 loss spectacular "I" " n "' <>f Representatives ) r "l'''''• l l' iiiiinoial Debate to-day I' '11 i; 11 " '« formal and rather colourlr-- rrrilnl I.f I art h mill figures, most l,irlll ''ilo'ii trim, t !k< ftudgct itself 11. » > ■ an uninspiring day on whole, 1,1 '"""k benchers of both sides' e\• 1 1.111111 '4 orthodox views in orthodox fa I 11 H »n.

r M >'/ U ' ,■ J ' l T .'" U,n (National. Stratf..nl) WHS first, into the breach when the Mouse resumed in tho morning, and he up (lie cudgels for the primary |>rodiii-er. fie has developed a facility lor rli awing the tire of the Government, tuiil holoru he sat down became emI "'o'led in a brief argument with the I'rime Minister, Mr. Savage, and Mr. Spoilker on the question of loyalty, on which so much was said during the disniMMion on the report of the Imperial (Jont 'Truce the previous day. I lie I,'ov. A. Jr. Nordmeyer (CJovernrncnl, Oamuru) wanted to know whether

the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton, desired a "starve and be miserable" Budget, while Dr. D. O. McMillan (Dunedin West) expressed ideas concerning a State-owned Press. Burden of £27,000,000. Mr. .T. Hargest (National, Awarua) said tho country could not bear the burden of £27,000,000 for public works in two years. As works were required they should lie built. Transport services that hud been successfully conducted by private enterprise were being taken over by the Railway Department, the ndminist ration of which was a failure. The housing scheme was not the success the Government had hoped it would be. There had been Social services of a high order ill the country long before the Labour Government wu thought of, and they had been carried 011 nt a moderate cost. Any expansion scheme should be treated with caution. The danger of people leaning too heavily on such services had to be guarded against. He would co-operate with the it inistcr of Defence provided the service given was 011 sound lines, but he questioned whether the increased vote would bring the results expected because of higher cost*.

Mr. <!. H. O. Wilson (Government, Rangit ikci) referred to the stabilisation of prices and the Oovernment's desire to prosperity continue with wages keeping tip with profits. Land purchased lit high prices in boom times ill the past had resulted disastrously for many farmers, and they had to be careful that that, position did rot again develop. "The policy we are carrying out is not only humane and just; it is a sound economic policy," he added. Prudence Essential.

Mr. VV. .1. Broadfoot (National. Waitonio) said that prudence was essential and a < iovernmeut, like a farmer who saved his summer crop for the winter, should save for more difficult, times. The < lovernnient hiul been extolled for in - creasing purchasing power, but the in-

crease was mainly due to the enormous increase in the value of exported products. That increase had been disregarded by the Minister when framing his Budget. His record expenditure was In*hoc! on rccord returns instead of being hased on ft prudent average. It was lint possible for any Government to regulate outside prices so that the same level could be maintained year after year. The prudent course was the building up of reserves. It was palpably the intention of the Government to make every person in the country a servant of the State. "The alternative to an eat, drink and be inerrv Budget is a starve and be jii iserable Budget." said Mr. Nordmeyer. There seemed to be a great deal of concern n hont the future of private enterprise, but was the system of private enterprise so sacrasanct that it should not he altered. It had many sins to answer for, and there was good reason for believing that the State could^ carry on more, efficiently a number of industries that were being left to private enterprise in New Zealand to-day. Replying to Opposition criticism that the Budget provided for reckless expenditure. Mr. Nordmeyer asked whether the Opposition could point to any definite evidence of recklessness. "Would if," he asked, "cut the defence vote, social services, wages and pensions?" It was on those lines that the Government was Bgending .the cguntg^l