PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 17 August 1929, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

DEBATE ON THE BUDGET. MORE ABOUT LAND SETTLEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.} WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. ■ Continuing the financial .debate when the House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 p.m., Mr K. S. Williams said r what, he disliked about the Goveraj nient’s proposals was that they created [ the impression that the man on the land, no matter iwhat may be his (brains and ability, was mot to ;be permitted to I rise above a certain level of prosperity. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo) said he, like many other members, disliked the primage duty, but ho had failed to find any suitable substitute for it. He congratulated the Prime Minister on his decision to increase the taxation of large land holdings- and said he knew personally of some landholders who in recent years had escaped paying tax to a very great extent, and it was time they were confronted with an additional share of the country’s burden. He was glad to see that the requirements of the man desiring to develop virgin country were to be catered for in no inconsiderable way. Replying to the remarks of Mir Williams concerning the development of - pumaceous areas, Mr Broadfoot said in his opinion the problem should ibe tackled from Rotorua as a centre, and an area with a 20 miles radius should first be brought into a state of productivity. Modern means of transport should' (be used and eventually, when there was enough productive land in the district to justify it, a railway should then be constructed. Mr Broadfoot suggested they should develop the quality of New Zealand’s specialty foodstuffs as a means of penetration into the markets of the world. If they had proper salesmanship in the United States and concentrated on the quality of these products they could overcome the effects of the tariff barrier against New Zealand. While attention was being devoted to this object a careful investigation should also be made into the mineral content of New Zealand foodstuffs. Research in this direction would be a valuable aid to the school dental clinic service. Mr W. L. Martin said the Reform Party were the friends of the large landowner and it was not difficult to I understand their protests against the prox>osed extra taxation. Practically all the remissions made to farmers during the Reform regime were in favour of large landowners—6l per cent, -of the remissions went to taxpayers whose in- . comes exceeded £IO,OOO per year —and yet the Reform Party denied that they had been guarding the interests of the big men. Mr Martin congratulated the Prime Minister on the fact that in the Budget he was making an endeavour to bring about a more equitable system of taxation. •*. V'j l Mr Martin expressed the [belief that a great number of the country’s difficulties would disappear if a .State bank were established, and he commended Mr F. Langstone’s Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill to the Prime Minister, and an impartial investigation of the position should (be made. He urged the Government not only to carry out to the full its policy of closer , land settlement but to provide roads to serve all the areas settled at the present time. The idea of conducting land settlement without providing proper roading and other facilities should not be encouraged. Living conditions should :be improved, as in some cases at present they were far from being an encouragement and inducement. He urged the Minister to* guard against permitting land .boards to hinder his policy by unnecessary conditions as to the capital, etc., of applicants for land. The land policy would have to be .put into effect with more rapidity than at present if the Government was to remain in office. Mr G. R. .Svkes said he trusted that when the land tax legislation was presented to the House it would be found that a, hardship clause .had been included. He appealed for the immediate recognition of the Wairarapa- claim for a better railway service. Mr R. W.’Hawke said he had met that day a largo landowner who had informed him that while he would be affected by the proposed increase in taxation to the extent of £IOO per year he wished to congratulate the United Party on its decision, as he recognised it was acting on sound lines. Mr Hawke urged the development of secondary industries hand in hand with land settlement. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.