BUDGET DEBATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1929, Page 7

BUDGET DEBATE

NOT YET FINISHED GOOD ROADS v. RAILWAYS (Special to ‘‘Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 23. 1 Resuming the Financial Debate in the House to-day, Mr Stallworthy maintained that Sir J. Ward would be able to obtain all the money he had promised. He justified the increase in the primage duty, and said that according to the Alliance of Labour it would mean in increase of only a halfpenny a week for a family of four, if it were passed on. Clothing would not be affected because it was manufactured in the Dominion. There was not a tittle of evidence for the statement that the United Party had discussed in caucus the question of having a large surplus. Mr Jordan suggested that the Minister of Finance should make the condition of granting State Advances loans for redemption of mortgages a little easier. He urged the Minister of Education to liberalise the conditions under which teachers are working, particularly in the matter of sick leave. Mr McDougall estimated that the primage duty would not amount to more than 6/3 a head of the population per year. He advocated greater use in the Dominion for New Zealand goods. “We might as well import cheap labourers as cheap goods.” He stood for a Protectionist tariff that would enable every boy and girl to make a fair and reasonable living. Mr Ansell objected to the primage increase, on the ground that it was not based on scientific principles. No tax should be placed on absolute necessities of life. Free trade would be a disastrous policy for New Zealand. Some form of protection was essential if men were to be encouraged to take up trades. Better provision should be made in the matter of returned soldiers’ pensions. He considered that there was a moral, if not legal, obligation on >the Government to make a contribution for the maintenance and construction of main roads. He refuted the suggestion of tihe Prime Minister that there were ample funds in the possession of the Highways Board to enable it to carry out its work. The Prime Minister was depriving the counties of subsidies to which they were entitled. He strongly protested against the Government’s roposals. The laying of good roads would be the most practical factor to encourage introduction of British rather than American motorcars. “Motorists’ interests should not be neglected simply because we wanted the railways to pay. At the price of Hying 80 miles of railway we could lay 800 miles of road to open up new land for settlement.” Mr J. O’Brien, discussing the taxation proposals, said a farmer with a taxable balance of £lO,OOO could not be regarded as a small farmer. Th e mortgage exemptions granted by Reform were most iniquitous. He hoped the Government would be given the opportunity to carry out its policy, but if it did not get on with the job of solving unemployment, people would have the right to complain. Rather than increase 0 the interest bill 'he advocated borrowing in the Dominion. If assistance were given to the sawmilling industry, 24,000 more workers could be employed. _ +i ~ When the House rose at u.oU, tlie debate was still unconcluded, but there are indications of the approaching end. SHOPS AND OFFICES. Authority is contained in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, introduced in the House to-day, for an inspector to dispense with the requirement as to separate entrances tor a shop which carries on separate businesses, if he is of opinion that the provision of separate entrances is impracticable in the circumstances of the case. If the occupier is convicted of an offence in regard to closing his premises after a dispensation has been made, the dispensation may be suspended by the Magistrate. • The bill also gives further power for inspection of shops. The requirements of the law as to the statutory closing day, or the observance of weekly half holiday in shops, are to be deemed to have been complied with if they have been closed for two working days which are otherwise declared to be closing days. COUNTIES WORK.

The Counties Amendment Bill provides that separate rates for special works may be made annually recurring rates. Separate and special works rates may also be made on the authority of a poll of ratepayers. APPRENTICESHIP. The Apprentices Amendment Bill which made, its appearance in the House to-day, provides that on the bankruptcy of an employer, the Arbitration Court may order payment out of the assets to be made to apprentices. Where an apprentice is guilty of misconduct, or is incapable, an employer may suspend him, and apply to the apprenticeship committee or where there is no committee, to the Court, for leave to discharge him. The application must be made within three days of the suspension, and while the apprentice is suspended his wages may be withheld. Where leave is given to discharge an apprentice, the discharge

shall count from the date of the suspension, and if the order of discharge is not made, the suspended wages are to be paid. The majority of members who are appointed as representatives of employers and workers shall be persons who are or have, at some time been actually engaged as employers or workers in the industry, or in any one of the groups of industries in respect. of which the apprenticeship committee is appointed. A further clause prescribes that a member must not be absent from three consecutive meetings of the committee on penalty of being called on to forfeit his seat.

In cases where a committee is unable to come to a decision on any matter, the bill lays‘it down that reference shall be made to the Court and where a committee has failed to refer matter to the Court within reasonable time, application may be made to the Court for a decision by interested parties, who shall be’given the opportunity to be heard. In certain cases,

the district Registrar may exercise the powers of the committee. The area within which the apprenticeship committee shall exercise its functions shall be within the radius of 20 miles. from some points referred to in the industrial agreement, but power .is given the Court to extend the area, if satisfied that this should be done.