WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 12 August 1929, Page 11

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

loan embargo story.

SIR JOSEPH WARD RECANTS.

CRITICISM OF THE BUDGET.

LONG DEBATE ANTICIPATED. Iky utxeur *rn.—srrriAU. hepotster.] "WELLINGTON, Sunday. "Artinns are better than words, an old proverb says, but members of Parliament apparently think otherwise. .At any rate, although Parliament- is now over six week l ; in session, there is yet no sign of haste in coming to grips with the legishtivo work that still lies distantly ahead. Naturally the Government is the pacemaker. and in that capacity has set a most generous standard, with the result lhat the House has so far clorio little jriote than talk on a multitude of topics, mostly streaked with pre-election prejudices. -And now another week has fled b r yond recall without producing much of 1 tal consequence to tile Dominion's welfare. Nevertheless, the week had its piquant moments. It began on a note of the most, violent discord, the result of the \rrv qualified withdrawal by the Prime Minister, S;r Joseph Ward, of his loan t'iiihargo allegation. He had allowed the (harge, to he against the Hon. W. Downie ■Stewart., >-v-Ministcr of Finance, for two or three weeks. .At every opportunity the accusation had been challenged by ill" prform' Party. £•> Joseph had in the end to confess that he had been mistaken. but- he doggedly held to his story that there had been an embargo—for 18 months 7 , if uot'for two years. Mr. Stewart's Reprimand. The circumstances of the case are now •veil knswn. New Zealand had been advised to arrange its annual loan on an earlier du.tc than usual. .As Minister of Finance in a Government about to submit to the Will of the. people, Mr. Stewart made no commitment. The way was left clear for Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. Stewart's successor at the Treasury, to a.'cept or reject the advice. Sir Joseph decided t<"> heed the warning and make his loan flotation in January, instead of in May, the usual month, and it is generally admitted that that course was the right- one. .Another loan may, and

presumably will, be floated in May next-

Out of 111050 simple fa.cis Sir Joseph wove his embargo story. There will be !lfi months between loans instead of the usual/ 12. Less astute Parliamentarians than Sir Joseph may be pardoned, perhaps, for their inability to trace even an lo months' embargo, and, even if there is, such responsibility as that involved must bo shouldered by Sir Joseph Ward. Debate oil the Budget.

The manner of Sir Joseph "W aid's •withdrawal was most unacceptable to the lieform Tarty, particularly with the "Vaile letter" incident fresh in mind and the feelings of Mr. Coatcs can be understood when he warmly urged Sir Joseph lo "be fair.'' There can be no gain now in pursuing the topic. Speaking later on the day on which the qualified apology was made, Mr. Stewart said with "polite and restrained directness all that- seemed necessary, and the Government. remained discreetly silent during the

> astigation. Sir Joseph "Ward's Budget proposals formed' one of the week s chi p f topics of discussion. The debate on the Budget as opened by Mr. Stewart on Tuesday evening; The ex-Minister of Finance made a clear and closely-reasoned speech, in • which he took the line that the Government had made a stalking horse of the £577,000 deficit in order to "evade the. fulfilment of its election pledges. Mr. Stewart claimed that there was no need for increased taxation.

Encouragement ol Aviation. The Budget debate was continued in f.ts and starts during the remainder of the week. By ine waiving of formal preliminary business exceptionally good progress was made on Thursday, and fight speeches were made. On 1' riday. however, no ''progress at all was made, for (he Aviation Encouragement Bill produced by the Minister of Defence, Hon. T. M. Wilford, being emphatically a subject of vital current interest, drew comment from <"?11 sides or the House, and a discussion which occupied all but an hour vf the dav's" business developed. The bill has as its main theme the giving : of legislative authority lo local bodies 4o contribute toward the cost of landing grounds to tlip extent of an amount equivalent, to their unauthorised expenditure for the year. The strongest cmirism came the Labour Faitv, which" held that, the Government should itself accept the responsibility for assisting the development of civil aviation. Mr. Wilford look the. stand that the Government was unable, in view of present commitments, to h'?lp in more than a limited wav. The bill was read a second time on the undertaking by the Minister to endeavour to meet certain objections raised m time for consideration during the Committee stage of the measure. / Test for the Government. Outside (he chamber one of the mam topics (or speculative discussion has Deeri whether the Government's right to occupv the Treasury Benches vrill be challenged bv an amendment Mr. Coates will move when the Customs .Amendment Bill comes before the House. It is generally understood that Mr. Coates' amendment relates to the doubling of the primage outv. a Budget proposal against which the F.cform" ana Labou" parties alike protested. In the event of the House being divided, it is most probable thai (lie Government will make the issue a test of confidence.

Labour has lhc deciding voice., in view nf the present political situation, and it. will interesting to see bow Mr. II oil and will direct las followers to vote. Jt is significant that, a Labour caujus this wfcpk authorised for release a statement Ihat was rather less dogmatic than one made bv M". Holland when recently addressing a conference of freezing workers in Wellington. Mr. Holland then said the Labour Party would not be found supporting Mr. Coates on any no-confidence motion. The late- statement, is to the effect that circumstances will shape Labour's attitude. On the result, of this particular amendment it accordingly seems idle to speculate too far in advance. Long Debate Indicated.

Domestically the week lias brought important changes to Parliamentary habits through the adoption of the revised Standing Orders, which are now operative. Ihe main points are daylight sittings c» l'ndays, and regular adjournments not later than' 10.30 p.m. on other sitting davs. •Some curtailment of speeches will also i esu.lt, but the usual one hour licence i r T each member attaches to the present debate on the Budget. How Vri- that debate will last is still uncertain, "it is probable that. most, of ihs members on the Government and Reform benches will have, something to say, while the Labour members, having held their peace so patiently during the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate, are all eagerness to make, up the leeway. One has heard <"f'a Labour member who has drawn 17th sP°akinc place in his party, and, as there ai« onlv 19 Labr.ilr members in the H«us*, a long debate is distinctly indicated.

Unfortunately, a Budget, debate opens b wide' scope, for discussion, and already there has been a familiar ring about the speeches of some members who have spoken in both the Address-in-Reply and Budget, debates. To those who listen there is certainly need to remember frequently the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind.'-