BILLS PASSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1939, Page 14

BILLS PASSED

FINANCE AND TAXES

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE

LIVING STANDARD

Urgency having been taken for their passing, the Finance Bill and the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill were disposed of in time to allow the House of Representatives to rise at the usual time of 5.30 p.m. yesterday for the weekend adjournment. The Bills were then sent to the Legislative Council, ■ which wasted little time in passing them through all stages. Tlie desire of the Opposition not to prolong the debate unduly, while at the same time impressing upon the Government the necessity for some curtailment of expenditure, was expressed by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton) during the Committee stage on the Finance Bill. He explained that the attitude taken up by his party was due to a recognition that more important matters" even than the Finance Bill were probably engaging the attention of the Government, and therefore the Opposition would move its amendments to the Bill without undue discussion. "We do say, however, that we consider the proposed expenditure excessive, and if the Government likes to say that it will cut down that £15,000,000 borrowing for Public Works and taper off the expenditure over three years, we will support it," Mr. Hamilton continued. The present rate of spending could not go on, and the tapering off time had arrived. The Acting Leader of the House (the Hon. P. Fraser) had expressed concern about the standard of living of the people, and the Opposition was just as concerned about it but had different ideas about how to secure it. Unless the people were put to productive enterprise the standard of living could not be sustained. "I am sure that the Government by now is well acquainted with that problem and we don't want to embarrass it in the difficulties' of transferring people from Public Works to primary and secondary industries. Nevertheless, we are concerned that that £15,000,000 is going into Public Works instead of into productive enterprise," said Mr. Hamilton. "SHOULDER TO SHOULDER." Mr. Fraser expressed the Government's appreciation of the attitude taken up by the Opposition. The Government, he declared, did not believe in having any one of its Ministers attacked or isolated. They stood shoulder to shoulder, and whatever criticism there was against the Minister of Public Works or any other Minister was against the Government as a whole and they took full responsibility for anything that was done. No request had been made to the Opposition regarding the continuation of.the debate, but it was much better that it should not be unduly prolonged. He repeated that he had no fear about the financial future of the Dominion and expressed his complete confidence that the standard of living of the people would be maintained. , j MONEY FOR HOUSING. The clause in the Finance Bill empowering the Government to borrow £3,500,000 for housing purposes was responsible for a short discussion, during the course of which the Minister of Housing (the Hon. H. T- Armstrong) exp«tssed the hope that legislation wo^d be passed during the session providing for rural housing. Mr. A. E. Jull (National, Waipawa) suggested that the Government should assist building societies and those who wished to build houses for themselves. Mr. D. C. Kidd (National, Waitaki) expressed the view that in the event of the Government bringing down a rural housing Bill the Opposition would give it full support. Objection was taken to the cramping up of houses in Canterbury by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton). He said, he could understand houses being closely packed together in Wellington, but with ample land available in Canterbury there should be no occasion for congestion or for the construction of narrow streets in State housing areas. DEATH DUTIES. A denial that the retrospective provision relating to the increased death duties payable on the estates of persons dying after August 1, 1939, was directed at any particular estate or estate^ was given by Mr. Fraser. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) moved an amendment to bring the provision into operation after the passing of the Act. and this was defeated by 36 votes to 24, after the AttorneyGeneral i the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) had pointed out that it was impossible for any action prejudicial to any estate to have been completed between ' August 1 last and the present time. I Opposition members described the provision as unjust and harsh, and generally criticisejl the principle of retrospective taxation. The Finance Bill was put through the remaining stages without amendment and with very little discussion.

The discussion on the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill is reported under separate headings.