THREATENING TIMES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 9

THREATENING TIMES

MORE ECONOMY WANTED

BALANCING ,THE BUDGET

Principles upon which the Budget should be balanced were discussed by the conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day, when the following remit from North Canterbury vas under discussion: . . That in the interests of >tUe Dominion it is essential ,thati the Budget should be balanced by further economies .rather than by additional charges and taxation. r , Mr. W. M. Mulholland (North Canterbury) said'that we had'got to the position where' tho reduction of costs was so essential that <• any further1 imposition' was a matter that could hardly be contemplated. There was a feeling that a great deal more could be yet done in the way of economies. There was a great difficulty in bringing about a sudden reduction in expenditure in large institutions, but we were up against times that were threatening to become so terrible that it must be ■ insisted that extraordinary measures should be taken to prevent further costs to the "producers of the country.' Farmers knew .what the. position was, but it was, not soeasy to get'the public to realise.it. . ' ■'. Mr. O. M'lntosh (North Canterbury) said that tho. conference should support the Government in the endeavours to'eeonomise so that the Budget could bo balanced without. further taxation. Mr. R. H.Feisst (Auckland) said that ■unless there was an- increase/in ; the value of our primary products, the only remedy was to reduce costs. There was a tendency to draw on reserves as long as they were thcro, but sooner, or later j the unpopular course of reducing expenditure had to be taken. Mr. E. Walker (Auckland) said we could economise to the lowest, and tax to the limit, but it' would not get the Dominion out of trouble. The costs of the industries; of the1 country had to be reduced. ' . . • .Mr. S.-N. Ziman''(Auckland) said it could only bo done by v being ruthless and: hard-hearted, anil saying that"it must be done." ' •■. ' , ~ Mr. L. Poupard (Glen Oroua.): "Does this;Yefer to a further cut in- wages; dock'.'trimply it?" ' .■ Tfier "-president (Mr* W. J. Poison, M.P:): "It1 implies economy." The remit was carried, Mr. Poupard voting against it. •,'■: •■ ■ .- .Mi: Poison (to Mr. Poupard): "Don't you want; economy V.' :,-; : , , 1 Mrf.Poupard: MI want it defined." -,