BUDGET DEBATE

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1931, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE

FURTHER OPINIONS DEFENCE AND ATTACK. MAORI MEMBERS SBEAK. f (Par Praia Association. — Copyright.! WELLINGTON, This Day. The financial debate was resumed in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr T. Makitanara (Government, Southern Maori) said the Prime Minister had taken a courageous action to cut the garment to suit the icloth, and had taken upon himself a great deal of unpopularity among non-thinking people. Under the guidance of the Minister for Native Affairs, a great deal was being done on native lands. He referred to tobacco and wheatgrowing by Maoris, claiming that, in the North Island, Maoris had beaten Canterbury at wheat-growing and had grown 40 bushels to the acre. “If the Maoris can do that, why do not the pakehae do it? Instead of howling about the duties, they should follow, the example of the Maoris and put their shoulders to the wheel,”

Mr J. Linklaier (Reform, Manawatu)' said he was disappointed that the Minister of Education could see very little scope for economies in education. He was in favour of the education vote being cut down in the case of those within easy reach of schools, but he hoped every facility would be given to rurai children. Mr J. W. Munro (Lab., Dunedin N.) criticised the Government’s handling of the unemployment problem. Side by side with the wage cuts there had been increasing unemployment, because the community’s purchasing power had been reduced. He regretted New Zealand at present did not have statesmen similar to those who had been in office in the early 90’s. It was a pity that, instead of a Budget cf depression, the House had not had placed before it a Budget embodying a bold policy, indicating that the Government was at least going to make an experiment, 1 ' 1 “Already Overtaxed.”

The Hon. A, J. Stallwofthy, Minister of Health, said he did not like the Bpdget proposals and he considered the country was overtaxed already, but the country had got into a vicious circle and the position had to be met. One newspaper had called the Budget “a needs must Budget,” and that was what it was.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: “Needs must, or needs bust?”

Mr iStallworthy: “Needs must when the devil drives.” ,Mr D. Jones (Reform, Mid-Canter-bury): “Is that what you call the Prime Minister?”

Continuing, Mr Stallworthy said one thing in the Budget he did like was the decision to balance the country’s accounts. He wished to express his appreciation of the way the Opposition had decided to assist the Government instead of attempting to make political sapital out of the- position. He believed New Zealand would recover prosperity much more quickly than either Britain or Australia. All that was needed was to put its house in crdet.

Reverting to the question of balancing the Budget, he said while Labour endorsed the principle, Labour members kept insisting on measures that would make it impossible to balance the Budget. Labour w'as following a foolish road and was pledging itself to a policy impossible of fulfilment. It was essential that the Government niust meet its liabilities in an honest way, and that could not be done if it pursued the policy of high wages that had been tried in America and had failed.' Cost of Living Factor.

Mr J. S. Fletcher (Independent, j Grey Lynn) said he was in favour of a national Government. Ho wished to i make it plain that he was referring < to a national Government rather than to a national party, and he was also : in' favour of an elective executive. He i said he was confident the Government could effect considerable economy in ; the Public Works Department, and for that reason he intended to vote against all taxation proposals that would involve an increase in the cost of liv-! ingMr Taite Te Tomo (Reform, Western Maori), making his second speech in the House, spoke through an interpreter. He mentioned he had urged Maoris in his electorate not to seek work under the Unemployment Board’s schemes, because he recognised there were many Europeans who had no land, whereas every Maori has at least some land, and he had advised them to cultivate what little land they had. Mr W. L. Martin (Labour, Raglan) said 50,000 men were unemployed, and as the average earnings of those men would be £3 a week, the loss :to the community was great, because £50,000 a week was being spent to give them sustenance. They should be put to productive work, and lie advocated land development. The Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Labour: “Land development does not absorb many men.” Mr Martin: “I disagree with the Minister. Anyway, money is practically wasted at present.” • Mr Martin suggested the eodl industry should be given more sympathetic treatment. The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 10.30 p.m.