THE ESTIMATES

Evening Star, Issue 23038, 17 August 1938, Page 7

THE ESTIMATES

DISCUSSION IN HOUSE MANY REFERENCES TO COMMERCIAL ' BROADCASTS FIRST APPLICATION OF CLOSURE [Pia United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 16. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Holland gave notice to ask the Minister of Customs whether it was the intention of the Government to remove the embargo on the export of scrap iron to England so as to permit New Zealand to co-operate with the United Kingdom Government in its rearmament programme. He also asked if the embargo had resulted in unemployment in the scrap iron industry and deterioration of the stocks of scrap iron in the Dominion, and would the Government compensate merchants for the losses incurred by the embargo. Mr Poison gave ■ notice to ask the Prime Minister if he would have an inquiry made into the operations of the Spanish medical aid organisation and the proportion of funds which reached the Spanish forces, and to which forces the funds had been despatched. Mr Bodkin gave notice to introduce the Otago Central Licensing Committee Bill. Four days’ leave of absence was granted Mr TSu'Henare on account of illness. ■ The House then went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. Discussing the first item, the vote of £102.350 for the Legislative Departments. Mr Forbes asked for the departmental balance sheets earlier than they had been made available hitherto. Mr Poison contended that it was unsatisfactory that, in a year of receding income, the Government should be planning its peak expenditure. An examination of the Estimates showed that there was clear indication of oyer-esti-mation of revenue and under-estimation of expenditure.

Mr Broadfoot, mentioned the sum of £29,000 in the broadcasting estimates, and asked the Minister in charge of broadcasting how much of this amount was for the establishment 1 of the new , broadcasting journal. He asked if the establishment of such a journal were necessary, and further asked if it would be used for propaganda; also, who would censor the matter published in it. Referring to the commercial broadcasting stations, he asked why the Minister did not receive a regular weekly record showing the stations’ losses or profits. Mr Broadfoot also complained that the broadcasting report was five weeks overdue. The acting Minister in charge of broadcasting, Mr Jones: It is in the 'printer’s hands at the moment. Mr Broadfoot wanted to know why the report had not been finished in time to be submitted to the Auditor-General for his report, and also how many members of the Government and their relatives were working for the commercial Nations. Who had provided the capital to start these stations? he asked, and he, went on to draw attention to the amount of travelling expenses incurred by the commercial service, stating that he considered the amount exorbitant. The Minister of Public Works, Mr' Semple, stated that complaint had been made about the Government’s expenditure on roads for backblock settlers, but he would point out that more work was being done to-day to give the backblock settlers good roads than ever before.

“Frankly, I cannot say how many relatives of the Government members are in the broadcasting service,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Savage), in reply. He did not kno- the numbers, nor did he care so _ long as the service was being provided. He did not know that any relatives of Government members were so employed. “If’l have a relative in the service, what is wrong with that?” he asked. If a case could be made out that somebody was receiving preference, then he would alter it, but he would not condemn anyone because he or she was a relative of a Government member. As far as travelling expenses were concerned, the department could not be conducted without some expenditure in that direction. Expenses were being kept down to the lowest point consistent with efficient administration Mr Savage also referred' to the Government’s building scheme, stating that, owing to the sins of its predecessors, the Government —about £17,000,000 behind in the erection of public buildings. _ The Government hoped to do more in respect to public buildings before long. Mr Poison, referring to the increased vote of £200.000 for the Department of Agriculture, said this increase was / perhaps more justified than other increases shown in the Estimates. He, however, drew attention to a vote of £6,500 for the ‘ Journal of Agriculture,’ stating that this journal competed with similar journals run by private enterprise, and the latter did not receive any grant of £6,500 from the State. He was of opinion that the ‘ Journal of Agriculture ’ should stand on its own feet. •

Mr Endean referred to an item in the Estimates for the Prime Minister’s Department of £1,500 for the League of Nations. The League, he said, had been a great idfeal, but it was one which. had got Great Britain into a bit of a mess. Personally, he thought there was greater public concern than the Prime Minister realised over the matter of the national and economic security of the Dominion, and ho advocated that even greater provision should ho made than the Government was providing for the defence services. Mr Coates, dealing with Public Works expenditure, contended that the Government was borrowing money for public works maintenance. The Prime Minister (Mr Savage), replying, said Mr Coates had been misinformed. and borrowed money was not being used for such purpose. The funds for that objective had come from the unemployment funds. With regard to the ‘ Journal of Agriculture, the circulation of this journal was increasing by 500 monthly, and in from 18 months to two years it was hoped that it would be self-supporting. At 5.20 p.m; the Prime Minister moved that the motion now be put. Mr Poison: Gagged on the Estimates for the first time in history. The Opposition called for a division on the Prime Minister’s motion, and this was carried by 41-16, the voting being purely on party lines. The first item of the Estimates—namely, the.vote for the Legislative departments—was carried on the voices, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.