FLIPPANT MOOD.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 5

FLIPPANT MOOD.

MEMBEES OF PARLIAMENT

BUDGET SKIRMISHING. (Special to "Northern Advocate.") WELLINGTON, This Day. One would have thought that after the wearisome financial debate mem-> bers would have been glad to have seen and heard the last of the Budget, but that is by no means the case. When the Estimates were under consideration in the House yesterday some members showed a disposition to criticise the Budget, not so much for what it contains, but for what it does not contain. j Mr W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) said that the Budget was a document which was a cash statement, but not a balance-sheet, They should know more about the revenue of the country and the incomes of the people. It was not sufficient to be given statistics of exports as an indication of the productivity of the nation. As things were in the House there was considerable stabbing in the dark. * "Hear, hear," interjected the Prime Minister. • "It is the Prime Minister's fault," said Mr Parry. "If he gets a stab in the dark it is his own concern, because he is in a position to enlighten members who should be in a position to discuss these questions.'' Commenting upon a remarks made by Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) Mr Massey said it was the first time he had heard the Budget referred to as "mysterious." He had had communications from men who were considered to be authorities on the subject and they had told him that the Budget was plain and straightforward, so that anyone could understand it. He had not only received communications to this effect from people in this country, but also from beyond seas.

The Leader of the Opposition: 'Mysterious communications. , (Laughter.)

"There is nothing mysterious about them," observed Mr Massey. "There is no mystery." The great trouble was that people expected too much information in the Budget. Mr Massey referred to the strain involved in reading the Budget to the House.

Mr Wilford: "The reading of it might very well be done away with."

The Prime Minister added that this year when he delivered the Financial Statement he was suffering from a cold and had been glad to get to the end.

Mr Poland: "The trouble with you is that you have been reading it too long." (Loud laughter.) Mr Massey: "The honourable member will never get an opportunity of reading it at all." (Laughter.) Mr Poland: "I am not looking for it at all. You are looking for it all the time." Mr Massey said that if the House would allow him in future he would be quite willing to lay the Budget on the table and make a speech. A Labour member: "Which is worse?" (Laughter.) Replying to what Mr Parry had said Mr Massey remarked that if the Budget were anything it was a balancesheet.