NEW OBJECTIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 10

NEW OBJECTIVE.

GOVERNMENT BUDGET MINISTER'S LAST WORDJ SOCIAL SERVICE COSTS. — / (By Telrarrnp>li.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. When tho House of Representatives resumed at ~.M) this evening the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, began- his reply to the Finance, debute. He likened tho Budget to tlio first annual report of u now company with a new objective and stated in reply to Opposition criticism that although there may be name funds going overseas from this Dominion tho amount was not large.

Mr. N/wh considered the Leader of the Opposition must have hart his tongue in his cheek when he said tho Government wan taxing the community beyond it* ability to pny. Hβ condemned the practice of paet Governments borrowing money overseas, stating that the Labour administration would never adopt such a course, and aleo stated that, contrary to the Opposition's contentions, revenuo from rentals on Government houses would meet outgoing*. Nor did ho agree that the country was overtaxed and that money tipent on building bridge* to obviate level crossings was expended needlewsly. Thosn bridges should havo been built yt-ars ago.

A member of the Opposition, mi i<l the Minister, had issued it warning that the Government could go too far hi the provision of social services. Ho did not think this wn« «o. They could not go too far in providing social services, hut the inference whs that if tiro Opposition ciiniß into power those social services* woulfl bo cut. Ho admitted that tlio Budget wjih a propaganda budget. All budget* wore propaganda budgets, as they (old to tlio people what Government* hud done. Mr. Nilmli drew attention to new pension* instituted by the Government, and paid the. pnifc (Jnvpriiinpnt had failed to Inrroasp ppnoions In pnwpproua periods before the Hhiinp, Spenkins of the Opposition's contention (hut t br» Government'* housinif a.otlvitie* were sniicczing '"it- the small builder. (In- Minister drew attention to the I'tict Hint contract* were now being let for two t.vpiu nf house*. If Hie small builder mill,l build liotwes for Ilin price*, mill complying with the con ilitinns required, ho win quite welcome In the eniilriict.i*. Mr. Vi-.li iliil not c|ii«h iia fjiir eriti-ci-m Hie *tntcmcnt tlmt the fiovernnieiri wiiii kepii on liulpiiui chain wt.orp 1 * In flrivf (ml wimill etnrckeepev.^. t";i riiMT-i. xiii<l ,\rr. Nni«li. wen. better nil' nikw (linn tliev liikl been for seven nr elirlit vcfli'o. Kin*in expenditure was cprlii'mlv up -~> per cent, liut. overwiifl retiirni hud ztnnr up .T2.-1 per cent. Pii.jrre-fi win reported lt f o '_».*. p.m., find the ffoimp ro»<! until 2. .10 p.m., to-morrow.