PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 5 September 1929, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

FINANCIAL DEBATE ENDED

DISCUSSION OE ESTIMATES

DISCUSSION OF ESTIMATES COAIAIENCED.

id, - Pr«tKi > WELLINGTON. Sept. 4. Mr P. Fraser gave notice in the House of Representatives to-day of his intention i<, introduce the Unemployed Workers’ Bill. The Summer 'lime Bill and the Law Practitioners Amendment (Solicitors’ Fidelity Guarantee Fund) Bill were introduced by massage from the Legislative Council and read a first time. The Land Laws Amendment Bill was introduced; by Governor-General’s message and read a first time. 'lhe Hon. G. W. Forbes, replying to Air Coates, said the Bill wa-s designed to alter the law in regard to the settlement of unoccupied Crown lands and to put into effect the Government's policy in respect to the acquisition of estates for closer settlement and actual arrangements for placing people on the land The fhui.noiul debate was resumed by Air W. H. Field, who continued his criticism of the land taxation proposals. Mr J. O’Brien, rising to a point of order, moved an extension of Al l j Field’s time. Mr MoPougall said he did not wish I to oppose the present motion, hut lie desired to announce to the House that in future lie would oppose motions for extensions of time for any member other than the Prime Alinister, the Loader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Labour Party. Air Field was granted an extension of time. He asked the Minister ol Lands to give earnest consideration to the subject of land valuation' and urged that- the basis for valuation of country property should be its stock-carrying (rapacity. He; hoped when the Government acquired land and divided it into small holdings it would offer it- to settlers as freehold. Air Forbes: There will be. no alteration in the present system. Air Field said he was glad to have had that assurance. It would have been regrettable if it bad been -proposed; to introduce a leasehold system. Air ,). A, Nash said lie knew the Government was- anxious to get on with the estimates so ho would not speak at length. It was absurd to say that the increase in the primage duty would not lie passed on. He- bad received a letter from a farmer who stated that in addition to the extra 2s o’d per ton j that had been added for freight, on a load of superphosphates there- had also been an increase of 2,s <>(l per ton for pr.iiimgo duty. 1 Sir .Joseph Ward : The primage duty does not amount to- anything like that.! Air Nash expressed the opinion that had Air Downie Stewart remained in. office as Alinister of Finance there would have been no need for increased taxation. He criticised the decision to complete the South Island main trunk j railway which, he considered, would result in heavy loss Lie did not agree |

that the result of the election could be regarded as a. mandate to undertake this project. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. Tne debate ended at 9.5 p.m. and the lhni.se went into Committee of Supp,.. to ileal with the Estimates. The estimate, for the legislative departments I i. 0.81,866) was taken first. | Sir Joseph Ward, replying to a point j raised b.v Air R. A. Wright, said the i time, was ripe to- overhaul the National Provident Emul aint tire .superannuation system generally, and he hoped to accomplish this next session. Mi- R. AlcKeen said: he was disappointed that there was nothing in the to indicate that the Minister of Education intended to undertake the co-ordination of the education system this year. Air D. G. Sullivan asked the Prime Minister whether New Zealand would lie represented at, the international Labour conference, this year. Sir Joseph Ward replied in the affirmative. Air W. J. Jordan asked the Prime .Minister if he would inform the House whom lie had in mind for appointment tq, tlie High Connmissionership. He also expressed the opinion that the sum voted for publicity work in Britain (£2000) was insufficient. It was stated to be the least paid bv any Dominion. The Hon. IT. Atmore, in reply to Air R. AlcKeen, said a select committee had been set up to deal with the education system, as outlined in the Gov-ernor-General’s speech, and would commence hearing evidence shortly. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Air VV. J. Jordan, said there had been no fresh appointment yet to the High Commissioners!)ip. Tile present High Commissioner would: remain in oflipe till, the end of October, and the arrangement under which the term was extended provided for a further extension if necessary. In the meantime Sir James Parr was carrying out his dutiets very well and the interests of New Zealand were being in no way neglected. It was not possible at the present time to say whether a further extension of his term of office would he necessary.

Referring to the expenditure on publicity in Britain Sir Joseph Ward said it was necessary to keep down expenditure a,s much as possible, and it was a duds able that the estimate should stand at the amount actually expended last year and be increased later if necessary. The discussion had not been completed when the House rose at 10..‘10 p.m.