THE BUDGET DEBATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15073, 16 August 1912, Page 8

THE BUDGET DEBATE.

SOME LIVELY EXCHANGES.

A POPULAR POLICY

lap.oit: MEMBERS' approval

[UV TKLECItAWI.— : I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION-.]

Wellington, Thursday. Tin debate on the Budget was resumed in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr. 'I. Hunter (Waipawa) said Mr. Russell, member for Avon, had accused the member for the Bay of Islands and the member for Thames of inconsistency. Such reproof from the member concerned reminded him strongly <>[ Satan reproving sin. Mr. l.aurenson had accused the Minister for Customs of inconsistency. Now. In* could show that the member for Lyttelton was inconsistent. At the last, general election Mr. l.aurenson, who was an ardent prohibitionist, took the platform on behalf of it brewer (cries of "Oh!"). Mr. Laurenson was also a, leaseholder, and hail taken the platform on behalf of a freeholder. (Cries of " Oh'") Mr. Hunter approved of the elective Legislative Council, and said if only half the reforms outlined in the Budget, were carried into effect the Government would bo doing excellent work. The graduated land tax was a question which interested him greatly. Mr. Wilfuld: I, will hurt you. I 'will show you how to got out of it. Mi. Hunter said the increase would press very heavily on those who held large. areas. Large owners should be given a tail opportunity to unload. The throwing on the market hastily of a. large number of estates would make for unemployment, as the men working on these estates would he thrown out. of work. He would not say one -word against the increase in the graduated land! tax, because the Government would be able to use the money so derived for the benefit of the people of the country. A Sweeping Condemnation. Mr. Wilford (Hutt) sail! the Budget was the greatest political illusion ever

j known. Dr. Poinaro: Yes. We stole it. . -Mr. Wilford: "1 will accept the state- . ment of the hon. gentleman, who is a responsible .Minister, that they stole the Budget." Mr. Wilford proceeded to enumerate what he called the Govern - I ment's blunders, namely, the renewal of | .1800.000 of Post Office debentures at 3£ ; per cent, instead of 3j? per cent.; suggesting that a Licensing Bill should be introduced by a private member; allowing a private member to introduce a Bill connected with racing permits; allowing a newspaper to write articles to the effect that the Mount Nessing and Shefenden Estates had been acquired by the new Government, when the purchases were made by the Liberal Government before relinquishing office: and declining to touch the tariff question. The graduated land tax did not mean what it said. It did not express what the people of the country believed it did. He did not wonder that the member for Waipawa, and the large landowners loved the Government. They had nothing to fear now. The financial proposals of the Budget, the graduated land tax, and the land "proposals would raise the rate of interest to everyone. The workers' homes proposals of the Government were a farce. They were going to hand the. matter over to the county councils. Did they not know that the borough councils already had that power, and had done nothing." The GovI eminent was going to endeavour to kill the I Arbitration Act. The very -suggestions they were making would kill the Act dead. Did they imagine that the patchwork of allowing five judges to sit on the Arbitration Court was going to quell the labour unrest in the country ? Dealing with the proposed Public Service Commissioner. Mr. Wilford said such a thing would be. as bad as was ever introduced. One commissioner with the assistance of his secretary would develop the worst. form of political patronage imaginable. He condemned the system of a. volunteer officer being Minister for Defence. Mr. Allen and Mr. Fraser should exchange portfolios. The elective Upper House proposal was a move for the rich man against the poor. They should have a revising chamber if the nominative system was unsatisfactory. An Elevating Budget. Mi. Nosworthy (Ashburton) said the country would not endorse the expressions which had fallen from Mr. Wilford. A great deal had been, said about the graduated land tax and the assertion had been made that what was proposed would affect a few people only. That statement he denied. He supported the reform of the Legislative Council, and said he believed the Civil Service Reform Bill would commend itself to every Civil .servant in the country. It. would end political patronage, lie also endorsed the proposal to get a -class man from abroad to manage the railways. In conclusion, Mr. Xosworthy said the whole tone of the Budget was elevating. It laid down the principle of self-support, and in that respect ' differed materially from previous Budgets, which had consisted of nothing i but a bombastic array of figures merely designed to gull the public. A Labour Man's Attitude. Mr. W. A. Veilcli (Wnngan'ui) was the next speaker. He said he was sure that every member would regret the universal industrial unrest, but he believed that the cause in New Zealand did not rest with the Arbitration Court, and a. change in its personnel would weaken, and not strengthen, that body. What they first wanted was a man who would know what was evidence and what, was not evidence and who had a good knowledge of the labour laws. The effect of the proposed change would be. that the expert employed by the employers would be retained and the representaive of the workers would he continually 'hanging. What they wanted to do was to remove' the causes I that Jed to the grievances of the workers. I

The- House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. When the House resinned at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Witch said lie was convinced that no improvement in the work of the Arbitration Court could take place until its functions were extended. lie thought the Government seriously intended to reform the Upper House. He would abolish the Chamber altogether, lie opposed an elective Upper Ilotute, because it gave the Council ,-, longer lease of life. He hoped the Government would continue advances to workers as heretofore and keep down the interest. Dealing with public works, he said that those who benefited bv the works should be taxed to provide further work--. He was pleased to nee provision for the increase of the graduated land tax. He was prepared to give the Government a fair run so long as they did the right thing. Mr. Wilson iTfiiimai'iiiiui) delivered a vigorous speech on behalf of the. backblocks' settler, reported elsewhere. Compulsory Residence. Mr. Anderson (Mntaura) advocated a compulsory occupation clause in connection with future sales of Crown lands. They should open up land in small sections, huge enough to allow a settler to provide for his future. Bv increasing the tax on estates over £20.000 in value, instead of on estates over £30,000, as proposed in the Budget, aggregation would be prevented to ;.. large extent. He. thought the freehold would do more for the man and for the State than the leasehold. The men who broke in bush and swamp land deserve*! everything that could I iv ,. hem. The House lose at 10.40 p.m.