FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 August 1929, Page 5

FINANCIAL DEBATE.

TWO INDEPENDENTS SPEAK. VIEWS OF MR. W. ,J. POLSON. (By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGON, August 15. One of the most interesting contributions to the financial debate in the Douse to-day was made by Mr. W. |'G. Poison (Stratford) who, while highly critical of the heavy increases in public debt, commended the 'land settlement aspects of the Budget, remarking “I should say that the Budget is that of a man with a thorough grasp of the country’s finances. It is ia Budget of a man who knows what wants doing, what he wants to do and who proposed to go* ahead and do it.” Mr. Poison said that he could speak not only as the representative of his electorate, but also of president to the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr. W. E. .Parry (Auckland Central) “Do you; speak for all the farmers?” Mr. Poison: I am in the position of having been recently re-elected to tiie presidency' of the Farmers’ Union and I have been told that I will be of great service to the farming community in this House, but that remains to be seen. Whether I am right or wrong, I can speak sincerely on behalf of the farmers of this country.” When the Budget was first presented, continued Mr. Poison, it was stated in the House that when the country learned of the Government’s proposals on the following; morning it would be afllame from end to end. Next morning, however, the country was still calm. Whilst many of the newspapers sympathised with the big landowner who was to be taxed, it was generally realised that the Budget was sound, although a few mistakes had ibeen made. Some Reform newspapers were among those who took that line. An adjustment of taxation had long been overdue. If the large farmer was the chief victim he had no one to blame but the Reform Party. For 16 years the Reform Party had sat still and done nothing, whilst the country clamoured for taxation on large estates. He strongly advised the Prime Minister not to proceed with his election promise to complete the South Island main trunk railway, as it could not pay for generations. Another Independent speaker, Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne), declared his intention to help the Government to make good, though he believed it was essential: to criticise; that was the best help lie could give. “It is no good letting them get into a bog- and mud; tell them before it is too late.” Mr. Lysnar warned the Government against the land tax proposals, which were ruinous. He would prefer to impose an income tax on everybody. Hon. T M. Wilford: “Is that a Re- , form proposal?” Mr. Lysnar: “No; the Farmers’ Union favours it.”