Reform Speaks With Two Voices on Budget

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6626, 12 August 1931, Page 7

Reform Speaks With Two Voices on Budget

Bach Benchers at Variance With Leaders

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Budget debate was resumed in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Hon. P. A. de la Pcrrclle, who said that after the Bpdgct had been fairly received hv the leader of the Opposition and Mr. W. Downiu Stewart, it had been left to Mr. A. E. Ansel] (Reform member for Chalmers) to say that his side of the House could not accept the taxation proposals of the Government. The Minister said he would like to know whether Mr. Ansell was justified in making that statement. I-Io declared that the Government was not neglecting opportunities to develop industries and was, in fact, on the eve of appointing a Development of Industries Board, which would be a combination of representatives from the Departments of Scientific and Industrial Research, and Industries and Commerce, together with one or two outside members capable of giving assistance. He believed such a board would be a great help to the Dominion’s industries. Mr. Downie Stewart: Will it.be a whole-time board? The Minister: No; a part-time board. Mr. J, G. Coates: Will it be a paid board? Mr. de la Perrellc: No; but some members may have to receive expenses for travelling to meetings. Mr. do la Pcrrclle added that members would be gratified to know that the trade representative who had just returned to Australia from the East 'jad made a considerable advance in increasing New Zealand’s trade with the East Indies. Recast the Budget Mr. C. E. MacMillan expressed the opinion that tho Primo Minister shouldrecast the Budgot in suGh a way that it could bo balanced without the 3 per cent, primage duty and without taxes On tea and sugar. He thought its taxation proposals should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. The Government appeared to have thrown over the principle that unearned ineome should pay a larger proportion in taxation than earned inedme. He considered that more revenue should be obtained from potrol taxation and givon to local bodies to enable them to undertake de-rating. It should be possible, if a determined effort were made, to get more revenue from this quarter without any charge on the users of petrol. Reform Divided Mr. R. McKeen, referring to the remarks of Messrs. AnsOll and MacMillan, asked whether Mr. Ansell was a rebellious member of the Reform Party or was thcTe a consensus of opinion on the Reform back benches that was not in harmony with the opinions expressed by the leaders. Mr. A. M. Samuel: You are flying a kite!

Mr. McKeen said ho believed that when the bells rang the majority of the Reform members would find themselves in a difficult position. It was quite possible it would be found that they had said one thing and had voted in the opposite direction. Mr. McKeen criticised the Government’s taxing proposals and said they imposed an unfair burden on those with smaller salaries. A State Lottery Mr. V. A. Ward expressed regret at,

Further Contributions to Debate

the position of Canadian-New Zealand trade and said that as the last Canadian election had been fought on the butter issue, it could not bo expected that tho Canadian Government would mako a gesture. Ho thought New Zealand should do that. He added that as tho Now Zealand elections were so close it would be impossible to send a Minister of the Crown to Canada, but it would bo a good idea to send Sir Thomas Wilford, tho High Commissioner. Mr. Ward considered it would be a good idea for New Zealand to have a State lottery on the lines of the Queensland sweep. It would raise money for deserving purposes and would prevent a lot of money going out of the country. Mr. Ward concluded by intimating that he would not be contesting a seat at the next' general election. He hoped at some future time to re-enter the political life of the Dominion, but at present his business did not allow him sufficient time to do full justice to his duties as a member of Parliament. He referred to the difficulties facing the country and remarked that he could not sec why there should not be a National Government with all parties represented in proportion to their numerical Parliamentary strength. The East Coast Railway

Mr. H. M. Campbell criticised the Government’s railway policy and said it would be better to complete, at a cost of approximately £1,000,000, the Napier-Gisborno line, on which £4,000,000 had already been spent, than to go on with the South Island Main Trunk line. Raise Money in New Zealand Mr. M. J. Savage urged that the banking machinery should be used in such a way that life would be put into industry. Money should be raised internally, thereby keeping our own workers employed. If we raised it abroad we would get it in the form of goods produced by the workers in other countries. Mr. Savage expressed the opinion that no further time should be lost before an endeavour was made to effect co-ordination of the transport services. Supporting the view that a chain of wool scouring or coal carbonisation plants should be instituted throughout the Dominion, Mr. Savage contended that there would be vast advantages in the marketing of our wool overseas in first-class order. He remarked that wool exporters were at present paying freight, Customs duties, etc., on tons of grease. New Zealand labour could be employed at the plants he had mentioned. A Gold Bounty Mr. 6. C. C. Black declared that the time was over-ripe for the development of the mining industry of the Dominion by adopting a progressive policy, with a gold bounty. There was a premium on exported gold amounting to £l6 per cent. Australia paid a bonus of £.l per ounce. Reviving Industries Mr. R. W. Hawke said ho hoped the Unemployment Board would bo able to revive the industries to which the men now unemployed had been accustomed in the past. It was important to draft men back to their natural elements. The debate was interrupted by the rising of the House at 10.30,