PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19712, 11 August 1927, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

THE BUDGET DEBATE. FULL DAY'S DISCUSSION. CRITICS 'OF GOVERNMENT. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEW. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The debate on the Financial Statement was continued in the House of Representatives to-day. It is expected the discussion will be continued until Tuesday night, •) One of the principal speakers to-day was Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill), a former Minister of Finance. Sir Joseph was granted an extension of the usual time allowed members, and he spoke for an hour and three-quarters. A feature .of his speech was his criticism of the Government's method of debt payment, Sir Joseph making a strong plea for the establishment of sinking funds. The principal Government speaker was the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. 0. J. Hawk on. The discussion, which commenced early in the afternoon, was carried on until 11.10 p.m., when the House rose until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. I DAISY PRODUCE BOARD. SMALLER BODY SUGGESTED. PROTEST AGAINST THE LEVY. NEW /METHOD OF SELLING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The administration of the Dairy Produce Board was discussed by Mr. J. A. Nash {Palmerston North) in the House to-dav. Mr. Nash said it was understood the expenditure of the board had exceeded the income derived from the levy made upon factories, in addition to which there was the complete failure of the board's policy and a most disastrous season for farmers. He had suggested this board should be merged with the Meat Board. The Minister of Agriculture had replied that this was a -matter for the board, but as the Government had two representatives on the board it was surely also a matter for the Government. There was no need for two boards doing practically the same thing and doing work which could quite as well be done by three men. So long as the board remained in existence there was a danger it might revive its insane policy of pi-ice fixation. It was also understood the board had a large sum invested, while at the same time many factories were having a particularly hard time. He did not think the board should have the right to go oh collecting ths levy while it had large sums of money hoarded up. Speaking later, Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) said he did not believe in price fixing for New Zealand butter. His view was that we should not send our butter Home to be sold, but we should compel Tooley Street buyers to come here and compete for our produce, not in England, but in New Zealand. They- must have it and would compete for it. The Minister of Agriculture, Hon. O. J. Hawken, said the Government was always of opinion that the Dairy Produce Board might not be able .to make much difference to the prices of butter and cheese, but he did not believe the results of the board's attempt to do so had been nearly so disastrous as was generally supposed. The fall in the prices of New Zealand produce was due to other circumstances, and he doubted if the board was responsible for any of the loss at all. He favoured a dual market for both wool and dairy produce, as it gave the producers two chances. If they did not get what they expected they could ship their produce Home. EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE FUNCTION OF BOARDS. [BY TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A caucus of the Reform Party was held to-day to discuss the business of the session. It is understood that among other matters the reform of the education system with respect to the functions of education boards was discussed, and that the subject was referred to a committee of the party. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. , MORE OPPOSITION PETITIONS [BY TELEGRAPH. SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Two further petitions protesting against the passage of the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill were presented to Parliament to-day. One,'presented by Mr. T. M. Wilford, contained 65 signatures of Wellington and Hutt Valley residents, while the other, presented by the Hon. J. A. Young, on behalf of the State Education Defence League, Auckland, contained 46 signatures. EX-FARMER'S CLAIM. PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. ' [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A claim that he would be in a good financial position to-day if the Mortgages Extension Act had not been passed is made bv Herbert William Sly, formerly a farmer of Papatoetoe, in a petition presented- to Parliament to-day, asking for compensation for the losses he has sustained. According to his statement he commenced without capital and worked his way up without help. A sum of £7OOO obtained through the disposal of his interest in.a farm was placed out at interest, to be repaid in Jnly, 1919, but owing to the Act mentioned he was unable to call his money in, and, as the mortgage on the new farm he had taken was not Under the Act, he was forced into bankruptcy, everything was sold up and petitioner. with his wife and family, was "turned out on the roadside to starve. Durintj the last 12 months he had not had six ninths' full time at work on account of illness, and owing to failing health and advancing years he finds it almost impossible to compete against the single Joung men offering on the labour market.