BUDGET DEBATE ENDS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 235, 17 September 1934, Page 4

BUDGET DEBATE ENDS

Customs Revision Consideration MONETARY REPORT COSTS (Own Parliamentary Representative). WELLINGTON, September .15. . Although Parliament has been in session since the last week in June, it was only during the past week that the House of Representatives settled down to the serious work to be done before members may return to their homes. Members had expressed their opinions on all manner of things during the previous week and continued to do so until the Budget debate was concluded on Thursday afternoon, but no real progress was mode until the Customs Amendment Bill came up for consideration on Friday. Tho speeches made during the concluding stages of the financial debate differed little from those made by members who had first say, and even the members who had not bad an opportunity to express their views were glad to see the end come. Labour members continued to criticise various phases of the Government’s activities and Government members argued, convincingly or otherwise, according to their ability, in favour of what has been done in the past and what is to be done in the future, but at no stage could the debate be called inspiring. Alleged lack of provision for the unemployed continued to bo a favourite topic with Labour members, and Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont, Independent) introduced another matter when he claimed that the Government had lost £1,000,000 in introducing a Dominion coinage. His claim was refuted by the Minister of Finance, the lit, Hon. J. G. Coates, who showed that a loss on tho silver already in tho country was unavoidable. The Reserve Bank also came in for a fair share of criticism, Labour members again raising the question of issuing paper money against the credit of the country. THE TARIFF REVISION. The revision of New Zealand’s tariff has not proved all plain sailing, a second list of additions to the revised schedule being introduced on Thursday afternoon. Numerous alterations were made to the bill before the House, but no-one appeared to bo very clear as to what they actually meant and 'there was very little discussion before they wore added to the bill. It is probable, however, that more will be heard of them as the stages of the bill proceed. Friday was a warm day in Wellington and that may have accounted for the spirited discussion that took place in the House when the committee I stages of tho Customs Bill were continued. Reduced duty on beer wus the main topic for discussion and members must have raised a thirst discussing the pros and cons of the question. Labour members argued that the reduction proposed in the duty would come as a gift to the brewers as it could not be passed on to the consumers, the Governmental reply being that tho adjustment was necessary in the interests of the hop-growing industry in New Zealand. REPORTS PRESENTED. A number of reports were presented to the House during the week, the principal one, in point of view of bulk, being that of tho Monetary Commission. With the report a bulky volume containing the minutes of the” evidence taken by the Commission was presented. This tome, which contains us much reading matter as three or four novels, covers nearly 750 pages of foolscap printed in small type, and it would be interesting to know if anyone will ever go to the trouble of reading it through, the cost of printing 498 copies, apart from the preparation which must have been expensive, was £790, or something over £1 u page for one copy, and the price to those who wish to acquire a copy is 12/-. The various departments are hastening forward reports on the past financial year and the number of papers for consideration on the order paper is growing rapidly. Many of these reports will receive scant consideration as the more important measures to bo dealt with appear, but some of them at least will lead to differences of opinion. It is probable that new measures will appear at frequent intervals now that tlie House lias settled down to its legislative programme, and a measure to provide relief for the dairy-fanners of the Dominion will be included in these. Apart from the House, Cabinet has always got work to attend to, and during the past week the dairy legislation has taken a prominent place in the discussions held. Conferences have taken place on several occasions, and it is understood that as a result of these a measure is in course of preparation.