PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21231, 12 October 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE A DULL DAY [Per Uxited Press Association,] WELLINGTON, October 11. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Notice of motion was given with respect to the sotting up of sessional committees. Notice was given of intention to introduce the following Bills :— Otago Harbour Board Empowering (Mr J. W. Munro), Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment (Mr J. M'Combs), Avon and Hcathcote Conservancy (Mr J. M‘Combs). Resuming the Budget debate, Mr A. E. Anscil (Chalmers) referred to the recent criticism of Parliament, and said that members might perhaps ask themselves whether they had done their part in upholding the prestige of the House, which very largely depended on tho actions of members themselves. (Other points in Mr Ansell’s address arc reported' under separate headings). Mr W. Nash (Hutt) said the primary producer was deserving of the greatest 'possible help, but the help which he received should be measured alongside the help given to other members of the community. The Labour Party stood for a guaranteed price for farm produce, and he thought that within the next few years it would bo possible to guarantee a price that would pay the fanner to the full. That definitely implied control of New Zealand's external trade. Mr Nash contended that the National Expenditure Commission had not given a true picture of the country’s position, nor had it pointed to the road along which New Zealand could travel to progress. He defended the expenditure on social services, and said that if it had not been for that expenditure the dominion’s national income 1 might not have increased as it had. The way to increase the national income was to provide greater opportunities for the people. Mr P. A. do la .Perrellc (Awarua) submitted that New Zealand was still faced with the necessity for doing something to assist the farmers. He believed that land values were too high and land taxation was also too high. A first essential for tho recovery of the farming industry was that markets should be extended and the Department of Industries and Commerce should make every endeavour to open up fresh avenues for the produce of the dominion. He favoured encouraging secondary industries, but only so long as they could stand up against competition from outside. Mr Perrelle said he disagreed with the National Expenditure Commission’s recommendation that the trade offices in Australia and Canada should be closed. The commission also apparently failed to realise the importance of the tourist services to the dominion. He hoped the Government would disregard its recommendations in these directions.

Mr R. Semple (Wellington East) characterised the Budget as “a mean and miserable document, which marked another step on the road to national bankruptcy.” He said the only way to establish a healthy national balancesheet was to have a prosperous people. The amendment of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act had been a definite incentive to employers to reduce wages further, and the South Island farmers had come to the conclusion that they had not gained one penny piece as a result of the wage reductions. Dealing with the proposal to establish a central bank, Mr Semple said the Government had no mandate to barter away the right of the people to have free and unfettered control of their own currency, and he believed that this would be the result from the establishment of a central bank in the manner proposed. It would chain the country to t( the international gang of usurers that had been to some extent responsible for the difficulties confronting the world to-day.” Mr Poison : On the Niemever plan it would.

Mr Semple: The Budget says that it is proposed to establish the bank along the lines recommended by Sir Otto Niemeyer.

Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North) urged the adoption of the National Expenditure Commission’s recommendation that the Transport Department ho handed over to the Public Works Department for administration. Mr F. Langstone (Wairaarino) asserted that there was no need for the slump in the dominion. New Zealand could regulate her internal conditions irrespective of what other countries did. It was simply because New Zealand followed the policy of other countries that the depression was felt here. ’I here was no shortage of wealth. There was simply a shortage of income. The first duty of the Government should he to create the money required by the people based on the dominion’s securities.

Mr I'., I*. Healy (Wairnu) referred to his recent trip to Canada. Ho said that what he had seen there had led him to believe that New Zealand had been very slow in completing her main arterial railways. Ho had returned more eager than over to see the main hues completed. ■M'' ® Drien (Westland) said if the National Expenditure Commission’s recommendation to reduce the number ol hospital districts were adopted it would sound the death knclj of the efficiency of the hospitals, which at [iresent were wonderful institutions. Ho also criticised numerous other recommendations, and said the withdrawal of the subsidy for herd testing would be particularly unfortunate. Herd testing had been of great benefit to agriculture, and had tremendously increased the butter-fat production throughout the dominion.

Jho debate was adjourned on the motion of the Leader of the Opposition, and the House rose at 11.25 p.m.