CALL FROM OUTSIDE.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 45, 21 August 1931, Page 8

CALL FROM OUTSIDE.

Mr. Coates said he had received calls! from all1 over New Zealand for the! adoption, of-.aplan to relievo theiri difficulties. The whole. country depended, on- the primary industries, and (: unless there was relief for the primary industries there would be trouble for the whole Dominion. They were hoping that something would turn up, but they were entitled to ask if something would turn. up. They would be lucky if they were able to maintaini the present prices. ' -

He did not mean, anything in the nature of pessimism, but just to indicate that the parties of the House might with advantage be called together to consider the whole position. There were those who said that New Zealand was in a better condition than Australia, and that was no doubt so, but there was a danger that the Dominion would drift into the position Australia was in. There had been a tremendous drop in imports, and even with the increased Customs tariff it was doubtful whether it would realise the estimate. That factor must increase the difficulty of balancing the Budget. The income tax estimates for the year appeared to be optimistic. /The railway accounts showed a "severe and alarming falling off. Then members had to consider the strong probability of a difficult situation next year.

He moved the motion with the view of taking the opinion of the House. The Prime Minister had discussed the position' with him, and also the Leader of the Labour Party, and ie was indebted to both Mr. Forbes and Mr. Holland for placing the matter before the House. The Bef orm PaTty had discussed every possible alternative, and had decided that the steps they were taking were the best in the interests of the country. '■ ■ ■

(Proceeding.)