Finance Bill Under Discussion

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 187, 8 August 1941, Page 6

Finance Bill Under Discussion

I EXTENSION OF ELECTRICAL SUPPLY Per Press Association. YVELINGTON, Aug. 7. j Moving the second reading of the i Finance Bill in the House to-day, the 1 Minister of l-'inaneo (Hon. W. Nash) gave a detailed explanation of the measure clause by clause. The Leader of tno Opposition (Mr. S. G. Holland) indicated that the Government would receive the Opposition's support in tho passing of the Bill, but he made a plea that the legislation should be so written that it could more easily bo understood by the layman. Personally, he said, ho had spent a considerable time studying the Bill and, because of tho manner iu which some of the clauses were drafted, he had only linished his study ot the last clause shortly before tno House sat. In the maih, said Mr. Holland, the Bill was a machinery measure and corrected anomalies in previous legislation. j Mr. F. L. Frost expressed his support of the Bill and said he was particularly pleased to note the provision for .in- 1 creases in war veterans' allowances. This measure had not come any too soon. Mr. Frost also indicated his appreciation of tho increased Social Security benefits under the Bill, stating that all the present Government’s legislation was moving towards the goal when everyone would be guaranteed a proper standard of life. Mr. H. E. Combs expressed the hope that the lower-paid public servant would be given an opportunity of contracting tuemselves out of the superannuation funds, as they had contracted themselves in at a time when they could not see that social security would be placed at their disposal by a benevolent Government. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle said he was pleased to seo the Minister of Finance making provision for a further extension in the ! country's electrical supply. Last year a profit of over £2,000,01)0 had been made on the sale of electricity to local bodies and this had been sufficient to pay interest and sinking fund on the capital involved. He believed tho Government should have found out that further extensions to our hydro-electric undertakings were necessary live or six years ago. I Mr. E. L. Cullen also referred to the ! expenditure proposed on additions to New Zealand's electrical supply system. Personally, ho thought we should be making even further provisions than the proposal in the Bill and the expenditure of many more millions on electricity would not come amiss. Lady Member Warmly Welcomed. The newly elected member for Waifcemata (Mrs. M. M. Dreaver) made her first speech in tho Chamber during the continuation of the second reading debate on the Finance Bill in the House to-night. Shortly before she commenced her speech she was presented with a floral spray by her colleague (Mrs. Stewart). Mrs. Dreaver, who was greeted with applause from all sides of tho House, acknowledged the kindness of members in their reception to her as a new member. She would also like to thank members of the Opposition. There had been no political bias in the Parliamentary reception to the new member. (Laughter.) Mrs. Dreaver 'stressed the fact that there was a place for womdn in politics and support for this contention was to be seen by the fact that she was in the House to-day. She emphasised the value of the present Government’s social legislation, stating that if the Labour Government had done nothing else since it assumed office, its record j would still excel the best achievements of all previous Governments, j An unfortunate incident occurred during the course of Mrs. Dreaver’3 speech when a man in the Speaker’s ! Gallery fainted and was taken out by members of tho staff and the police. The incident would not have been visible to Mrs. Dreaver from her position on the lloor of the House and she continued her speech without interruption. When she concluded she was warmly congratulated by members on both sides of the House.

Farmers Let Down.' * Mr. W. J. Poison, who was the next speaker, also congratulated her, stating th'afc if she carried on as she had begun, she would prove a splendid addition to the House. He then proceeded to examine in detail the Government's financial policy. Criticising the borrowing Mr. Poison said last year’s borrowing* had amounted to £26,000,000. The State investments showed the highest 1 earnings in our history, amounting to , over £3,000,000. That was a new high record. On the other hand, the total 1 appropriations in the Estimates including- exchange, amounted to no less a sum than £12,500,000. That left over £9,750,000 of the country’s debt charges ; to be found from other services than earnings from investments. Mr. Poison said that the enormous expenditure 1 going on year after year was increasing the burden on tho people. If the country were to increase its war effort ! in order to find money to carry on the struggle it should not be asked to find so much money for other purposes. Re--1 ferring to the £20,000,000 for public 1 works, he said that a portion of this was for housing and in this the Government .was doing a good job, but there were (many other items of expenditure which ! were extravagant and unreasonable. ( Mr. Poison accused tho Minister ol Marketing (Hon. J. G. Barclay) of lack ' of frankness in the handling of farmers’ produce. Both the Prime Minister and the Acting Prime Minister, said Mr. Poison, had given a definite pledge of purchase in respect of quantity and the j primary producers had been urged to increase their production of stock, j butter and cheese. Tho Minister of I Marketing, however, had refused to carry out the Government’s pledge and was not undertaking to purchase the normal production of the country, and this had aroused strong feeling on the part of farmers throughout the country. Mr. Poison appealed to the Acting Prime Minister to look into the wholo question with a view to tho Government 's keeping its word. Defence of Bulldozers. J The Minister of Railways (Hon. R. Semple) said it was true that £20,000,000 had been accredited for Public Works expenditure in the Estimates but it had been explained over and over again that this total was to bo divided up among quite a number of different departments. The honourable gentleman who had' spoken previously said the money • had been wasted. I {Sir Alfred Rauson: How many of the railways being built will be an expense on the country 1 Mr. {Semple said if there were anyone to blame for starting and stopping railway construction then it was me Opposition. Tho Government had also uoen criticised for its x>urchaso of bulldozers land other Public Worrits. equipment, the J Minister said. He had been sneered at ’ in tho Houso for the purchase of such equipment . opposition cries of no. Mr. {Semple continued that he had said at tho time that these machines I would bo of enormous benefit in peace* . I time and would be a blessing if war ’ came. This had proved correct. Aeroi dromes had been built by them throughout the country and if tnis had not been , done wo would not have oeen able to i send airmen overseas on the outbreak of war. Those boys or ours had put New Zealand on the map. Over a hundred of tnem won decorations. Now, fie said, we had sent these machines overseas to build aerodromes elsewhere and we had none left. Britain had asked for them.