PUBLIC WORKS

Grey River Argus, 27 July 1940, Page 12

PUBLIC WORKS

OPPOSITION MOTION For Cut in Outlay ARE THEY CONSISTENT. [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, July 26. When the House met at 10.30 a.m. the Prim e Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) intimated that an opportunity wouici be given to members, to-day, to discuss the Public Works StatementsThis was done on a motion to go into committee of supply, moved by •Hon. R. Sempl e (Minister of Public Works),

The Leader of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton), speaking to the motion, drew attention to the increase in • the public works expenditure since 1933. In 1933-34, he said, the public works expenditure was £3,500,000. In the next year, 1935, it was £3,500,000, plus x 60,000. In 1935-36 it was £5,630,000; in 1936-37, £10,450,000; in 1937-38, £17.367,0Uu, in 1938-39, £20,197,000; and last year £23,520,548. This was indeed a steep rise in expenditure, he said, and year it was proposed to have about £20,500,000 expended on puolic works. This amount should be reducible, said Mr. Hamilton. The amount to be spent on public works was quite apart from the war expenditure, which would amount to £40,000,000 thi s year. From th e Opposition point of view, the public works expenditure was the most dangerous part of the Government's policy, he said, and they would sa y that it .was the Minister’s duty to reduce it where possible. The Opposition had no fault to find, however, with th© war expenditure.

Criticising the Government’s public buildings programme. Mr. Hamilton said that the committee set up by the Government in \1936 had reported that the Auckland fruit marls were the best in New Zealand, but the Government was going to expend £160,000 on new marketing buildings in Auckland. He was quite sure that the buildings reported on were good. Mr. Richards; There is no guarantee of security of tenure. Continuing, Mr. Hamilton said that the Minister should take the public works estimates back, with a view to cutting the expenditure Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo), also urged a reduction in the public works expenditure, but he congratulated the Government or. the native settlement programme, which, he said, was an effort tu solve a grave problem, namely, what to do with th e Maori people, how to helb them to rehabilitate themselves, and prevent them from becoming a drain on the taxpayer.

Mr. Broadfoot moved, as amendment to the motion, that the House go into Committee of Supply, and that the Public Works Estimates be referred back to the Gov■ernment for further consid.3raT.ion, with a view to a substantial reduction in the expenditure other than war expenditure. The motion .was seconded by Sir A. Ransom (Nat., Pahiatuar Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago) said that, he had no complaint to make about the amount of public works expenditure in his own electorate, which was particularly well catered for in this respect, but he did think that some of the classes might well be deferred for som--time, and the amounts set asid e for them transferred ror the further development of irrigation. H e also advocated the establishment of a land settlement scheme in the Maniatoio Plain. Mr J Robertson (Govt., Masterton) challenged the members of the Opposition to indicate the public works expenditure in their own electorates which should be cut out. Mr. S. G. Holland (Nat., Christchurch North): That’s the Government’s job. Mr. Robertson continued that the Opposition members seemed to be only too willing to see the votes for other members’ electorates cut down, but they were not so happ.v about it when they were asked to cut down their own electorates’ es:iThis drew a storm of protest from the Opposition benches, until Ihe Prime Minister, by way of interjection, said that everyone knew the whole thing was a party trick, and there was no use in becoming annoyed about it Mr. Robertson continued that, tne country would'not be fit for heroes to live in, if development works were cut out Mr. Fraser: The amendment would bring back unemployment, starvation, and soup kitchens. Mr A. E. Jull (Nat., Waipawa), stated that the Opposition were not asking that all the works should be abandoned, but that they should be slowed down. Asked to name specific works, Mr. Jull replied that ther e were expensive road s in nis own electorate, which should not be built at present. The main highways scheme was in danger of breaking down, owing to the large amount of th e petrol tax required to pay interest on loans. Th e debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment at 1 p.m.

17 Support Amendment

ESTIMATES .PASSED.

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., J'uly 26.

The debate on the Public Works statement was continued in the House this afternoon. Mr A. S. Richards (Govt., Roskill) said that when Opposition Members accused the Government of extravagance, they should first be sure of their ground. He contrasted the policy of the present Government with that of past administrations with reference to the development of the country. He justified the Government’s housing programme. Mr F. Doidge (Nat., TaurangaL maintained, in support of the amendment moved by Mr Broadfoot, that the Government by its policy was deliberately building up conditions which would create another depression. People would not whimper if money were required for war purposes. When the Government’s present programme was examined it would be found that New Zealand’s internal expenditure was still on a

peace-time basis. We were proposing to spend great sums on Loading, but at tne same time were adopting a contradictory policy of petrol restrictions, which was driving traffic off roads. The Minister of Lands, Hon. r. Langstone, reviewing the progress made with the small farms scheme, said he hoped it would be possible in future to go in for more diversified farming on some of the blocks by the production of such commodities as fruit, poultry and honey. The Government was‘doing its utmost to get the best results from this very difficult project. Mr J. A. M. Roy (Nat., Clutha) said the first job at the present time was to win the war. The building of houses and the making of roads were very desirable, but he thought that the dropping of such work was one of the sacrifices that the people had to make under the present extraordinary circumstances. Sir A. P. Ngata (Govt., Eastern Maori) speaking of the rehabilation of men alter war, advocated that the Government should take in hand some fifty or sixty thousand acres in various parts of the Dominion for development work. This would, he said, be ready for occupation by Maori boys when they come home alter we had won the war. Mr Broadfoot’s amendment was forced to division. It was defeated by 36 votes to 17 votes. The voting was purely on Party lines. The Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, in reply to the debate, stressed the fact that a large number of public works for which votes were required were started long before the present war began. As far as he knew, no new works had begun since the commencement of the war. Mr Semple contended that the greatest major work in the country at present was irrigation. New Zealand required to have a larger population, he said, and these additional people must be afforded the opportunities such as irrigation would bring. He added that he would like to see thousands of British children brought to this country. The House then went into committee of supply, and the Public Works Estimates, totalling about £12,000,000 were passed within approximately half an hour. Before the House adjourned, the Prime Minister said the work for the next week would include the Supplementary Estimates, and several bills, including a Washing-up Bill. He considered it desirable to complete as mucn business as possible by next Friday. Then he would like Members to consider what length of recess they should have. He thought that intervals of a fortnight might be suitable, in the first instance; but, he would meet the desire of the House in the matter, whatever the interval was. If necessary, the House would be summoned at any time. Mr Hamilton said that the Opposition was quite prepared to meet the suggestion for short adjournments. The° Opposition asked the Government not to make too much use of the Emergency Regulations or Or-ders-in-Council. Excess profits, overseas funds, and compulsory loans were matters that should be discussed by members. Regulations were all right if the House were not in session, but if important matters could be discussed, they should be. The House adjourned at 5.37 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.