Delaying move defeated

Press, 26 June 1987, Page 6

Delaying move defeated

PA Wellington An Opposition move to delay further, consideration of the Budget until after the General Election was defeated in Parliament last evening. Mr Bill Birch (Nat., Franklin) moved an amendment to delay the second reading of the Appropriation Bill (No. 3) for three months “to enable the people of New Zealand at the forthcoming General Election to first indicate their view.” The amendment charged that the Budget failed on several counts. It failed to:

Address unemployment.

Disclose the true state of the Public Accounts by “presenting a false claim of a $379 million surplus.” Relieve the plight of the regions, pushing export industries into decline.

Remove the superannuation surtax. Tackle the root causes of high inflation, interest and mortgage rates. Contain the growth of taxation within the bounds of inflation. Curb and reverse State sector growth. Check the , “widening rifts within New Zealand society.” Several Opposition members spoke in support of the amendment, thus prolonging what . they termed a “truncated” Budget debate, held under urgency. It was defeated on a division, 43 to . 27.