YESTERDAY IN THE HOUSE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25275, 29 August 1947, Page 8

YESTERDAY IN THE HOUSE

CONTINUATION OF BUDGET DEBATE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) ' WELLINGTON, August 28. After ar. afternoon af varied business. including the passage of the Land and Income Tax Annual Bill 'on which the Government won a division 38-38, and. two northem local bilis, the House of Representatives returned to the Budget debate this evening. The three speakers were Messrs C. Carr Government, Timaru). E. B. Corbett 'Opposition, Egmont/. and H. F Combs 'Government Onslow». Mr Carr said there was. a need for the workers of New Zealand to produce more to help Britain. The workers had to throw themselves wholeheartedly into the task of increasing production, and great care had been taken by the Minister of PrHarre iMr W. Nash, to see that the workers would not be exploited by the employers, workers could not afford to think only of themselves while Britain languished and Europe was in its present state. Mr Corbett said the Budge? demonstrated clearly that the South Seas Bubble of insulation which Labour members had preached for years had teen effectively exploded. The Budget aeknowiedged that the insulation of this country from the rest of the world was impossible.

Mr Corbett said there were many goods which could not be eeonomicany manufactured in Ilevr Ze= land, yet attempts were being .nad to establish a tyre factory costing £2501)00. when New Zealand was in dire need of cement and houses. Shortages of essential goods were affecting every fiamPy man and woman and causing 'hem the greatest distress- Children’s clothing and essential working garments could not be obtained. When the Opposition mentioned shortages, ’hey were ridiculed by the Government. but shortages would not be so great to-day if it were not for the Government's policy which attracted ■workers away from essential industries There were more than 33,(M0 t. acaneies in industry which the Budget claimed, and unless every available man-hour could be used there would nave to be some drastic changes in New Zealand's economy

ifr Combs said there was a repeated cry in the Dominion, especially from Opposition speakers, for an extension of working hours from 40 to 44 <r 48 a week—without payment of ■■vertime rates for the additional hours. There was. however, no try for the uirection of physically fit idle men into employment. Why should not loafers be sent to work before workers were sked to dn longer hours? Mr Combs said if all who were physically fit were obliged to take up useful work the question of hours could then be reviewed. If longer hours were necessary he was sure that those now working would cheerfully accept the change if equal sacrifices were made. The man who was just idling away his time living on investments or on the proceeds of inheritance was not m the present difficult conditions serving his country. He was not a good New Zealander.