UNITED PARTY'S PROMISES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19715, 4 September 1929, Page 10

UNITED PARTY'S PROMISES.

UNEMPLOYMENT, LOANS, TAXES. REFORM MEMBER'S ATTACK. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON,. September 3. "The workers of New Zealand w-;re misled by the promise of £70,000,000. They found they had been looking at a sun of burnished gold; they were dazzled and blinded by its glare, but now that their eyesight has been recovered, they find that the gold was nothing but a mirage. It was a pyrotechnic display of brilliancy, ending in sparks and ashes."

The above remarks wero made by Mr A. M. Samuel, Reform member for Thames, concluding his Budget speech in the House of Representatives to-

Mr Samuel said he failed to understand why the London loan mystery had not been cleared up. If any arrangement had been made by the previous Minister for Finance it would not be binding in any way on a Government which shaped its own policy. Nevertheless, the allegation had been made so repeatedly that it reminded him of the story of the man who, on being "caught out" by his wife, retorted, "Anyway, that's my story, and I intend to stick to it."

Referring to the primage duty, Mr Samuel said that the additional tax would bo passed on, and would press very hardly on all sections of the community, especially upon the poorer classes and the farmers. Members of the United Party had sought to justify the imposition by declaring that it was too small to be passed on. There could be no doubt, however, that the tax would be passed on. He had heard a big merchant say that it would be passed on to the extent of 2* per cent. It would be passed on to the general public, and it would mean an impost of not one per cent., but of five per cent. Instead of being asked to pay £3OO 000, the public would be asked to pay one and a half million pounds. (Government laughter.) "Did you have to pay excess tor it on the railways?" enquired Mr 1. Langstone (Labour, Waimarino) when Mr Samuel proceeded to produce a large copy of the Government's election manifesto. , Mr W. E Parry (Lab., Auckland Central): What is that? Mr Samuel: It was written with a goose's quill! (Laughter.) „„!,,:,. "Mr Samuel said that the Public Works Department had been turned into a relief works organisation—a situation that was not to be desired Men had been dismissed from the Public Works Department after years of service. „ „ ~ -, . Mr Langstone: And from tho Post and Telegraph Department. Mr Samuel: Yes. Since the present Government came into office we have had a general-dismissal of men who could not be classed as casual workers. I say this is not fair. It is not a sound policy. Tho Minister for Public Works (the Hon. Mr Ransom): That is quite an incorrect statement on your part.

Mr Samuel: If my statement is incorrect, Mr Speaker, I would suggest that the Minister get up and refute it later. I don't wish to make any statement that is not correct, but we have had evidence on more than one occasion that what I am stating is correct. I know for a positive fact that men are being put off, and when the Minister says that that is not true, T challenge him to prove his statement

Mr Samuel said that the Government was not meeting the unemployment position as it should be met. A wrong policy had been adopted. There should be a scheme of roading and land settlement, which should go hand in hand.

Mr W. J. Broadfoot (U., Waitomo): You had the opportunity. Mr Samuel: The hon. member for Waitomo ; who is always making stupid interjections, said I had the opportunity. I never had the opportunity. I may in the near future, and then I will do it. (Laughter.) The policy of the Government in regard to unemployment seemed to be a "put and take'' policy—put some men on and take others off.

Mr Fletcher: We have only been here eight months. "Too long!" retorted Mr Samuel, who went on to refer to the plipht of skilled tradesmen employed at Price's foundry at Thames. "The tragic and pathetic misery in the town of Thames has been brought about by the Government. Promises cannot appease hunger, and no sophistry can turn a bread and water meal into a banquet," he added.