FINANCE POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 22

FINANCE POLICY

DEFENDED IN COUNCIL

"CRITICISM UNFAIR"

Defending the Government's finance policy when moving the Address in Reply in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, the Hon. T. F. Doyle (Southland) said that the fact that the Dominion had shown a surplus reflected efficient administration.

! New Zealand, South Africa, and Queensland were the only countries in the British Empire to show a surplus last year, Mr. Doyle said Great Britain and Canada had had large deficits, and the Governments of New South Wales and South Australia and the Federal Government in Australia had fared similarly. New Zealand showed a surplus of £810,000 an£ the people had shown their appreciation of the efforts of the Labour Government by returning it with a convincing majority for a further term of office. That vote had been in addition to a vote of no-confidence in the Press of New Zealand, said Mr. Doyle. Almost without exception the Prjess had been hostile to the Government and unfair in its criticism. He contended that this was unjustified. It was an attitude to be deplored, and one wiiich, he felt sure, was deprecated by all fair-minded people. DEFENCE SCHESttE. The Government was to be congratulated on its efforts to provide for adequate defence for New Zfealand, said Mr. Doyle, who reviewed the increase in expenditure since 1935 and the expansion in the air, nava^ and land forces. Referring to the increase in the land forces, Mr. Doyle said he regretted the attitude of certain organisations which, though professing and doubtless believing they were helping the Government, were trying to create the impression that the land forces could not be made adequate without the introduction of compulsion. The Government had no intention of achieving its en<9s by compulsion, and the very satisflactory response in enrolments indicated that this was not necessary. TOLL OF TUBERCULOSIS. Dealing with health, Mr. Boyle said one of the major problems wes that relating to tuberculosis. Last year 731 persons had died from this disease, the greater proportion in the southern part of New Zealand. If this disease was to be stamped out it would bsaye to be attacked at the source. For tfcis reason Mr Doyle said he believed that all cows should be subjected to tiie tuberculerin test Reports of special investigators showed that 7 per cent, of the stock in New Zealand was injected.

Human lives were valuajble. In addition to the 731 persons who had died from tuberculosis in New Zealand last year thousands of others had had to receive treatment. Every effort should be made to stamp out the disease by attacking it at the source, which would doubtless mean that the Government would have to compensate owners who would lose slock. Mr. Doyle also referred to the shortage of accommodation in sanatoria, and said he hoped that due provision would be made for much-needed expansion.

A tribute to the work of the Governor-General, Lord Galway, was paid by Mr. Doyle, who said it was with regret that he noted that his term of office was concluding. While they had been in New Zealand, Lord and Lady Galway had earned the nespect of all sections of the community.