BUDGET DEBATE ENDS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 5 September 1929, Page 6

BUDGET DEBATE ENDS

THE CLOSING SPEECHES ESTIMATES NOW BEING DEALT WITH. DISCUSSION ON FIRST ITEM UNFINISHED. Wellington, Septembe 4. The financial debate was resumed in the House of Rpresentatives this evening by Mr W. H. Field (Reform, Otaki), who continued his criticisms of the land tax proposals. Mr J O’Brien (Labour, Westport) rising to a point of order, moved an extension of Mr Field’s time. Mr D. McDougall (United, Mataura) said he did not wish to oppose the present motion, but he desired to announce to the House that in future he would oppose motions for extensions of time for any member other than the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Labour party.

Mr Field was granted an extension of time. He asked tlie Minister of Lands to give earnest consideration to the subject of land valuation, and urged that the basis for valuation should be its stock-carrying capacity. He hoped when the Government acquired land and divided it into small holdings it would offer it to settlers as freehold tenure.

The Hon. G. W. Forbes: There will be no alteration in the present system.

Mr Field said he was glad to have that assurance It would have been regerttable if it had been proposed to introduce the leasehold system..

PRIMAGE DUTY. Mr J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston North) said he knew that the Government was anxious to get on with the Estimates, so he would not speak at any length. He said it was absurd to say that the increase in the primage duty would not be passed on. He had received a letter from a farmer, who stated that in addition to the extra 2s Gd per ton that had been added for freight on a load of superphosphates, there had also been an increase of 2s 6d per ton for primage duty. Sir Joseph Ward: The primage duty does not amount to anything like that.

Mr Nash; That bears out what has been said, that the charge will be passed on and will be increased in being passed on.

Mr Nash expressed the opinion that had Mr Downie Stewart remained in office as Minister of Finance there would have been no need for increased taxation. He criticised the decision to complete the South Island main trunk railway, which he considered would result in a heavy loss. He did not agree that the result of the election would be regarded as a mandate to undertake this project. FIRST ITEM OF ESTIMATES. The debate ended at 9.5 p.m., and the House went into Committee of Supply to deal with the Estimates. The estimate for the Legislative Department (£89,806) was taken first. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to a point raised by Mr R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs), said the time was ripe to overhaul the National Provident Fund and the. superannuation system generally, and he hoped to accomplish this next session. Mr R. McKeen (Labour, Wellington South) said he was disappointed that there was nothing in the Estimates to indicate that the Minister of Education intended to underake co-ordination of the education system this year. Mr J). G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) asked the Prime Minister whether New Zealand would be represented at the International Labour Conference this year. Sir Joseph Ward replied in the affirmative. Mr W. J. Jordan (Labour, Monukau) asked the Prime Minister if he would inform the House whom he had in mind for appointment to the High Commissionership. He also expressed the opinion that the sum voted lor publicity work in Britain (£2000) was insufficient. It was stated to be the least paid by any Dominion. The Hon. H. Atmore, in reply to Mr McKeen, said a select committee had been set up to deal with the education system as outlined in the Governor-General’s speech, and would commence hearing evidence shortly. HIGH COMMISSIONER’S TERM OF OFFICE. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr Jordan, said there had been no fresA appointment yet to the High Commissionership. The present High Commissioner would remain in office 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 Janies Parr was carrying out the duties 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 be necessary. Referring to expenditure on publicity in Britain. Sir Joseph Ward said it was necessary to keep down expenditure as much as possible and it was advisable 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 nt 10.30 p.m.