POLITICAL NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 July 1924, Page 5

POLITICAL NOTES.

* TITLES AND PARTY FUNDS. LABOUR MEMBER’S QUESTION. (By Telegraph.— Special to Star). WELLINGTON, July 4. “It is a most impivoper question, and I will answer it- at once,” declared tne Pinna ivimister in tne House to-day when Mr l.ee, oi Aucicland Last, sougnt to place on tne cider paper a question to the Prime Minister us to- whether any recipient of any title or distinct ion oestoweu since the accession to power ol the Reform Party has been a substantial contribiuoir to the funds of the deform Party! Mr Massey replied that his answer was in the negative. “Not a. single pound has come from- anybody who is • the recipient of a title nor has any request in that direction been made during the last twelve years.” SALE OF CHEAP FRUIT. “Although I am a free trader, I am not. against protection when it comes to a question of the p/rotection of industries,” saicl Mr Buddo in the House to-day. Mr Massey: “That is keeping in the middle of the road.” (Laughter). Mr Buddo, while approving of the fruit control proposal, held that it must contain coercion. In the South Island thev did not want any iron-shod rule that fruit was only to be sold if it came up to a certain standard. They wanted to be sure that they could sell all girades of wholesome fruit and that the Bill, when it came, would not encroach upon the economic question of providing cheap fruit for those who desired it. Mr Hudson, as a representative of the fluit exporting district, asked what the member for Kaipoi would say if be declared it was unfair to prevent low class lint ter or low' class meat from coming on the market. He would say it was quite a different thing. Mr Buddo: “Yes. quite different.” Mr Hudson : “J thought so. I leave it at that.” MR. MASSEY’S .SURPLUS. “The Prime Minister will need to trim his sails a little closer up to the wind,” remarked Mr Buddo, who, when criticising Mr Massey’s big surplus of about two- millions, quoted the comparatively small surpluses of Australian Governments. Mr Massey: “Do you think those people will be able to reduce taxation?” Mr Buddo: “They do not want to reduce taxation.” Mr Massey: “Oh, get away.” Mr Buddo: “They saiy to the public, ‘We just, take out of your pocket what we require.’ ” Mr iuassey: “"What is their taxation per head?” 1 Mir Buddo: “It is £ll 5s lid in Australia against £l2 os 3d in New Zealand.” Mr Massey: “That is not so*’ Mr Buddo: “I have given the latest returns.”