DELAY IN MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 3

DELAY IN MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

Criticized By National

Member

EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC

WORKS

belay in calling Parliament together, particularly in view of the many urgent problems now requiring -consideration by the elected representatives of the people, was criticized by Mr. Dickie, Nationalist. 51.1’. for Patea, at the monthly meeting last night of members of the National Party in the Wellington metropolitan area. Mr. Dickie said that the Legislature of every other British Dominion had met before this to deal with questions arising out of the war.

Mr. Dickie said that while the Opposition had offered every assistance, and co-operation, both as regards recruiting and organization, little advantage had been taken by the Government, of Ibis offer. There were people on the State pay-roll who were indulging in subversive propaganda and there was no outward evidence of anv action having been fake.ii to check their activities. Referring to New Zealand’s war effort. Mr. Dickie pointed out that at the start of the lust war expenditure ou public works was cut to the bone, whereas for the year ended December, 1939. this class of expenditure had increased by nearly £500,090 over the previous year, and there were still 19.500 men on public works, according to the latest Abstract of Statistics. The country’s war expenditure could only be met from taxation, savings and economv. In 1914 New Zealand s public debt was 194.000,000. with a population of a little in excessof 1,000,000, but todav the country had a debt of £303,000.000, and the population bad only increased by 300,000. The Minister of Finance had admitted that the money and credit created during the last four years was £28,000,000 in excess of goods produced. This was reflected in rising costs and prices, so much so that Labour unions were demanding a general order increasing all wages. The unofficial exchange rate showed the true value of the New Zealand pound in Britain, America and Australia, and that was an accurate indication of the extent to which inflation had been indulged in. .