Financial Debate Continued

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 232, 2 October 1935, Page 6

Financial Debate Continued

Milk for Children; Markets in the East

ll’ EVERYBODY ATE MORE OP EVERYTHING -

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night.

The House met at 2.30, when the

Koman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin

Empowering Bill, which was necessary to enable tho Bishop of Dunedin to sell a piece of farming land at Omakau and to use the proceeds to build a presbytery at Omakau, was read a first time.

Air. W. J, Broadfoot asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of tho early development of overseas and internal air services, the Minister would tell the. House and country whether any standard equipment for aerodromes and landing grounds in tho Dominion had vet been decided upon.

Hon. J. G. Coates, in reply, said that it was a little difficult to establish what was essential for commercial services in New Zealand. Various systems were adopted in different countries. In New Zealand they were trying to adapt themselves to the system being followed by the United Kingdom, and it was expected tfiat it might be the system which would be made applicable to the Empire. He hoped to be in a position shortly to inform the country which system it was thought would be best for New Zealand.

Hon. IS. G. Smith and. Mr. To Tomo were each granted one day’s leave of absence on account of bereavements in the family and Mr. J. A. Lee one day on account of illness in the family. The Westland (Sawmill Employees Sick and Benefit Bill (Mr. J. O’Brien) was read a first time. Tho Small Farms (Unemployment Relief) Amendment Bill was introduced by GovernorGeneral’s Message and read a first time. The financial debate was resumed by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, who stressed the benefit of milk in building up a strong physique in children. ' Milk’ consumption in New Zealand was extremely low and he thought a supply of milk to children would reduce the cost to the Government of hospital treatment and other social services to people in poor circumstances and would also help the industry, which was sorely in need at the present time. - He welcomed the advent of a new shipping service between New Zealand and the East and said he thought it would benefit tourist traffic as well as opening up markets in the East for New Zealand produce. He commended the Government on what had been done to settle the unemployed married .men on the land in the last few years.

Mr. W. E. Parry criticised tho payment of high salaries to offices set up under recent Government legislation and alleged the Budget was net a correct statement of the Dominion’s finances. The Budget said nothing of the loss incurred through persons to whom advances had been made to build houses leaving them; it said nothing of the number of people freed of land or of other things; it fell very far short of tho information that should have been given to the country. He compared the 1935 Budgets -with these of previous years. Since 1931, he contended, the country was little better of. Then, daring recent years, the Government had said if more milk was consumed it would assist dairy farmers, but the Government also advocated eating more fruit and eating more beef.. People could not eat more of everything and benefit all sections. If they consumed more milk, they would eat less beef and the Government could not have it both ways. He referred to the great

amount of indirect taxation carried by poor people and said • wealthy people had got off comparatively easily. Mr. D, McDougall said that it was nonsense to say that wool could not be scoured in New Zealand. Ho said that tho woollen mills in Otago had excellent scouring plants. He also expressed the opinion that, if markets existed for Now Zealand produce in the East, they would have been exploited previously by, moneyed men. He opposed New Zealand going to war and said the Government had given very little consideration to those men who fought in the last war. If the enemy came to New Zealand, he would then bo prepared to fight to defend the country.' Ho was a Presbyterian and ho did not agree with Mr. McLeod, but with the Presbyterian who opposed war. Ministers were thero to preach peace and goodwill, not destruction. He urged the completion of unfinished railways and said that surely some return would come from them.

Air. W. A. Bodkin congratulated the Government on tho Budget and said the Government had adopted the proper measures to meet the depression. The Budget was proof of that. Ho said no country in the world was in a better state than New Zealand and that was because the Government took adequate steps to handle the situation. There were no great dismissals as in the United States. Social services were maintained as high as in any other country and that was an achievement of which, they could be proud. He paid tribute to tho work of tne High Commissioner’s office staff in' London and said it had nothing to learn from the organisations of other countries. He welcomed the Government’s intention to embark on a public works programme and said thero was no part of New Zealand that offered greater scope for that than Otago, particularly Central Otago.

Mr. P. C. Webb said some people complained when they saw a farmer going to the city, when tho farmer had a motor car or wireless set, but surely the person who was most entitled to a car or wireless set was tho producer in the baekblocks, and the farmer should be assured of an adequate return for his work —a thing the present Government was apparently not prepared to do. He referred to the undeveloped rich land on the West Coast and hoped tho Government would give some assistance in working it. He claimed that with somo Government assistance the Buller district could be made ,a second Taranaki. Mr. Webb suggested that the Government should make more money availablo for scientific research, especially mentioning the hydrogenation of coal. Ho also suggested that the gold tax should be set aside for the development of mining generally. He thought too that mines that were making money should pay employees higher wages.

Mr. J. A. Nash said Australia had a firm hold on the Eastern market but he contended Australia could not supply tho same quality of goods that New Zealand could and ho thought it high time the Government tested out the Eastern market He hoped the milk distribution scheme among children would soon be accomplished as it would mean less export, more money spent in the country and the end of malnutrition He thought tho time had arrived when something should be done in regard to the copyright dispute and B radio stations Admittedly tho A stations were rendering good service but many people liked to listen to the B stations. Ho outlined tho benefits the farmer had received from the Government’s actions and thought the Government had done the right thing. The Budget, ho said, had been favourably received throughout tho country and ho was sorry it had not been possible to reduce taxation and to restore the whole of the wages cuts, but he hoped that would be done in the near future.

Air Nash hoped next year the Government would be able to Teduco if not abolish the sales tax, which in many cases pressed heavily on the retailer. He thought it w9s incorrect to say the exchange had not benefited tho farmer. Ho contended the increase in the price, plus the exchange, had largely blown out Labour’s guaranteed-price scheme.