RECEPTION OF THE BUDGET

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 265, 5 August 1929, Page 12

RECEPTION OF THE BUDGET

minister gratified further opinions and COMMENTS “I am very gratified indeed with the reception that has been accorded the Budget throughout the country, said the Prime Minister in an interview with a “Dominion” representative last nl &lr Joseph Ward added that he had received numerous telegrams of congratulation from all parts of New Zealand, including some the source of which would, if disclosed, be an eyeopener to his political opponents. The Prime Minister expressed the opinion that the Financial Debate would occupy the attention of the House for a fortnight or three weeks. MOTOR AND BUSINESS OBJECTIONS Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, August 3. The suggestion of the Prime Minister when presenting the Budget that public expenditure should be withheld from highways near railways is not at all favourably received by local motoring authorities. The president of the Canterbury Automobile Association (Mr. F. W. Freeman) said that the fees' and taxes collected from motorists were for the purpose of improving main highways, not backblocks roads, the latter work being a function of the Public Works Department It is evident from o. inions and comments gleaned that the Budget is not regarded with approval by the business community, and men with farming interests look upon the Government’s proposals with extreme disfavour. - Mr. H. S. E. Turner, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “The business men had hoped that the Prime Minister would tackle the problem of Government expenditure. Also a large section o r the business community probably disagrees fundamentallv with his stated policy on road and rail tranport. It looks, without having exmined it carefully, as if he is suggesting handicapping the modern development of transport in order to assist the railways.

Mr. W. Machin, manager of the N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op. Association, said that to confess helplessness in curtailment of public expenditure and to dig deeper into the pockets of the taxpayer for the required revenue was a bad lead to everybody In the Dominion who were trying to make ends meet.

and along the north shore of the Persian Gulf to Gwadar on the Indian frontier presents no difficulties from a flying point of view, but, unfortunately, this nine hundred-mile stretch is over Persian territory. Our agreement with the Persians rests on slender foundations, and in order to get this section of the air route we have pocketed a good many insults. At one time, negotiations broke down altogether, and the Royal Air Force were instructed to survey an alternative route over the Oman Peninsula (on the southwest coast of the Persian Gulf). Here, although the country is not British, the local rulers have all entered into treaties with Britain. This country is one of scorching, rugged mountains and waterless plains. The survey party, consisting of four Europeans and an escort of sixty heavily-armed and thoroughly cut-throat-looking Arabs, was mounted on camels, and was well equipped. All existing maps of the country were useless and misleading, and complete astronomical observations had to be made. One of the four was a doctor. It was hoped that by giving free medical attention the enmity of the tribes of the interior might be overcome. It takes time to realise that, to an Arab, the European (white man and Christian) appears an inferior being. It is necessary to remember that we have only bought our way into their country, and occasionally we are made to realise that even money will not always purchase goodwill or safe conduct.

By the time the column had penetrated some little way into the interior, it had already been fired on, and it soon became clear that the whole of the tribes were in opposition to the advance. The escort refused to go any further, but as the survey party refused to go back, a compromise was effected by executing a flank march to a neighbouring village where the local Sheik offered niggardly hospitality. Here many useful observations were made, while the doctor purchased temporary immunity for the party with his medical skill. The use of anas* thetics being contrary to the Mohammedan. religion, the people submitted to some very painful surgery without flinching. The Arabs prize freedom and independence; delight in insecurity and warfare; and wish only for a good camel, a good rifle, and one or two wives; so they are somewhat difficult people for us to make treaty with. Medical attention finds the easiest way to their hearts. In spite of our denials, they insisted on believing that our astronomical observations, and the mysteries of the portable wireless set, were religious rites • Warlike Sheiks. The survey party were prevented from reaching their objective, the Biralmi Oasis, by the fact that the Wali of Biraiml. at the head of a war party was seeking for them. Biraiml bears a sinister name, even in Arab tradition. It is the headquarters of the Arab raiding tribes in the Peninsula—an arsenal, and a slave market. So Sharjah, on the coast, had to be reached directly. Progress was slow and uncomfortable through a country of scrub and bush-covered sand dunes. Foul water, beat, driving sand, and innumerable flies, helped to make life a burden, and the distant prospect of Sharjah, offering a few of the comforts of civilization, was very welcome. It is doubtful if the Shiek would have permitted the convoy to enter the town if he had not been in a very good humour owing to the satisfactory conclusion of a local war. The presence of seven of his late enemies whom he had captured and blinded was significant. The Sheik of the Oman Peninsula is not the Sheik of the screen! The survey had done useful work. We now knew most of the possibilities of this territory as an air route, and though it is practicable from a flying point of view, there is no doubt that the Persian side of- the Gulf is more so. It is interesting, to realise that travellers who have probably never been out of sight of a uniformed policeman, or a macadamized road, for more than a few hours, are now flying every week over a stretch of country inhabited by people who are living the same insecure lives, in the same way, exactly, as their ancestors were doing when our ancestors were invading Britain after the fall of the Roman Empire.