ALLOCATION OF MILLION LOAN

Grey River Argus, 27 July 1907, Page 3

ALLOCATION OF MILLION LOAN

WELLINGTON,, July 25. The work of Parliament is well advanced for the fourth week of the session. The two big debates viz., those upon the Address-in-Reply and the Financial Statement, have been completed and this would have been a good record for the first month. The House has also disposed of the Pure Foods Bill, a lengthy comprehensive Government measure which might well have been expected to take longer time. The Land Bill is expected .to go before the Lands Committee to-day (Friday) and those who are well in touch with the situation prophesy that it .will only take a fortnight in it's passage through that stage. TiHE LOAN BILL. • The Premier introduced to-day a measure entitled Aid .to Public Works and Lands Settlement which seeks to empower the raising of. a loan of '£1,---000,000 to. bear interest at a rate not. exceeding 4^ per cent. The allocation of the loan is proposed to be as follows: — Continuing the .construction of works, upon railways at present in hand (Pufblic Works Department) £375,000; additional rolling stock for open lines and such other works and purposes in connection therewith as' may be authorised, £200,000 ; in respect of land settlement by goldfields development, construction of tracks and bridges for the purpose of opening up the Iback blocks and such other works and purposes m connection therewith as may be authorised, £350,000; for the purpose of developing goldfields £250,000; in respect of telegraph extension £50,000; total £1,000,000.' WATERSIDE WORKERS' DEPUTATION. Hon, J. A. Millar, replying to-night to a deputation of Avaterside workers who urged him., to remove the duty off flour and potatoes, said that in regard to the duty on these commodities this was .a matter of policy and it was just as well to tell them plainly that the Government's policy was t0 protect as far as possilbe anything produced in this country. They had taken the duty off certain articles now but where a consumer Avas going to get the benefit time alone would tell. They ! had taken 6d per gallon duty off kerosene yet what difference had it made when they took 6d off tea? It was quoted at is 6d yet the lowest price now was is 4d. If they took the duty off flour they would have Australian flour dumped down here and our mills would be closed up. A voice — Why not nationalise them? Hon Mr Millar— That is all right in theory but when it comes to practical working it is a very different thing. To do all these things you must borrow money. ,1 voice— A State Bank will do it! •Hon Mr Millar— Our land and income tax is the most forward movement in the taxation of wealth we have yet made. I go so far in principle as to admit that in some cases ■these theories advanced are all right though they .are not within the Tange of practical politics.