Parliament DEBATE ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 262, 3 August 1939, Page 10

Parliament DEBATE ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Discussion Inaugurated By Leader Of The Opposition GOVERNMENT’S POLICY CRITICISED Labour Administration Defended By Minister Of Railways The financial debate was opened in the House of Representatives last night by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton. In a speech which lasted for an hour and 37 minutes he made a detailed and critical analysis of the Government s policy as revealed in the Budget presented 'the previous night Mr Hamil ton was followed by the Minister of Railways and Industries an Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, whose speech occupied the remainder of the sitting. . , , Finance, guaranteed prices, taxation and the attitude of certain members of the Government toward British foreign policy were among the subjects discussed by Mr. Hamilton New Zea land’s progress, he said, depended upon the united efforts of n - dustry, commerce, agriculture and labour in co-opera ion. Tia was the course the Government should follow. T. he Budg t crushed every incentive to produce. The Government’s administration was defended by Mr. Sullivan He contended that the policy it had followed had been to the advantage of the great mass of the people. The estimates of revenue and payments from the Social Security Fund for the current financial year were given by Mr. Sullivan. The revenue is expected to total £12,063,125. Of this sum the charge on sa aiies and wages is estimated to produce £5,550,000 and the subsidy from the Consolidated bund is set down at £2,000,000. On the payments side of the account the age benefits are expected to absorb £6,910,000. The afternoon sitting was occupied in discussion. on Mnusterial replies to members’ questions and in consideration of departmental reports already tabled. At the beginning of the sitting the Deputy-Leader of the Government, Mr. Fraser, announced that the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, was to go into hospital today for an operation. The House adjourned at 10.30 p.m. till today.