BRITISH ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1929, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

TORY BUDGET HOPES. LONDON. March 31. British revenue returns for 1928-29 show a surplus of £18,249,463. The surplus with an estimate o? £14,502,000. Revenue was £858,expenditure £682.200,158, sinking fund £57, 509, 434. Mr Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is expected to be able to’ present am optimistic Budget. Apart from the provision for the relief of rating, he is most likely to Labourites of their cry f-or a free breakfast table. The surplus excess is due partly to the improvement in busiffe*ss’. and partly tc» the heavy death roll in millionaires.

revenue basis, and he thought when a.l t*h,e improvements were carried out, including those to the lagoon, that Greymouth ,wquld be provided wi‘h all that was required. He did not think it fair or reasonable to ask the Department to consider another scheme, or to ask engineers at Home to report on conditions they had not seen. He could only endorse what Mr Perry had said. Mr Perkins thought the Chairman should be given an opportuni’y to obtain information. Ho had the confidence of the Board, aud would not go to any expense if not satisfied that the person making the report had not a world wide reputation. He considered that the Otira Tunnel traffic was reaching its maximum, and they must look to the only other outlet they had. Mr Perry questioned whether the Board had authority to engage an engineer to report. Mr Tennent: I consider it to be highly improper, and I am emphatically against it.

Mr Perry: There are plenty of good engineers in New Zealand. Mr W. Clayton supported the motion, though he considered it doubtful whether the Chairman would find similar conditions at Home. He shouldn’t engage an engineer, and it wouldn’t then cos* the Board a shilling. He pointed out that not all members of the Board were satisfied with the present scheme for harbour improvemen*s, and it was possible that one day tfiey dispense with the river and use the lagoon, with another breakwater south of the existing southern wall.

Mr Perkins suggested that they might get a brief report for abou* 50 to 100 guineas. Mr Tennent: There’s an old Scottish Baying that children and fools should not see work that is half done, and that seems applicable in this ease. It would be simply showing that « didn’t know our own minds. The Chairman: I am merely sugges 1 - ing .'hat we follow up the present

scheme. Ik reply to Mr Clayton, tn« Chairman -aid he estimated the cost of a report would at the outside be £250. In reply to Mr Ryall, the Chairman said he had all the available data and plans right from the inception of the port. Mr Tennent: I think the Chairman is taking a great deal upon himself. The Board has not been considered in -he matter, and if it authorises the Chairman to confer with an engineer it should know about such things.

The Chairman (to Mr Tennent): You’re allowed such information as a it ember, and I am entitled to have it as Chairman. If the Board is not satisfied it is for it to say.

Mr Tennent: I am just saying it. The Chairman: You’re remarks are unwarranted. Mr Ryall suggested that the word “comprehensive” might be deleted from the motion. Mr Tennent moved as an amend went “That the matter of a repo# stand over until the lagoon is dredged. Mr Clayton remarked that they had confidence in their and didn’t think anyone was likely -o make a fool of him. . Mr Tennent: “I am not afraid ot them making a fool of Mr McLean, but I don’t want to let them make a fool of Davy Tennent.” Mr Clayton suggested tha i e .am to be expended should he lim.ted to £lOO. Mr Ryall agreed to amend i motion accordingly, and after nr• discussion, the motion was put an carried, Messrs Tennent and Perry dis senting.