VIEWS OF MEMBERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21325, 28 October 1932, Page 13

VIEWS OF MEMBERS

TRADE DEVELOPMENT VARYING SUGGESTIONS MARKETS AND METHODS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday The debate on the Budget was continued in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. J. Connolly (Government—Mid-Can-terbury) said he felt sure the time would come when people would look back on the present difficulties as an experience and not as a catastrophe. Ho suggested that tho potentialities of China and Japan as markets should be investigated. If exporters of meat would give 1 per cent of their produce to the, Meat Export Board, to bo distributed in Eastern countries, it should be possiblo to create a demand which would lead to a development in trade. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central) expressed the view that Britain was more interested in what sho could supply to New Zealand than in what she could buy from New Zealand. He described the nations of the Empire as comrades in competition, and declared that the Government should conduct its trade on tho sound basis of taking in imports from any one country the same amount as that country took of our exports. It should see that the balance was maintained, no matter what country was concerned. State Interference Mr. Parry characterised as reactionary and cruel any policy which contended that tho raising of large sums of money for the alleviation of distress would add a greater interest burden to the young people of to-day on their maturity. Mr. H. M. Campbell (Government — Hawke's Bay) said that State enterprise, interference and tinkering in business had been responsible for a great deal of the present troubles. He suggested that a commission bo appointed to inquire into the school books contract, and the Order-in-Council affecting picture shows, in order to allay any uneasiness in the public mind. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs) said the only indication of a policy that could be found in the Budget was tho opinion that we should look abroad for the solution of our problems. He thought thatf, before doing this, New Zealand should at least ascertain that there was some prospect of finding a solution in this manner. "The idea is," he said, "that there should be a world conference of gentlemen who are all equally lost, and it is going to be a case of the blind leading the blind." It was to these people, he said, that the country was looking for the formulation of its monetary policy. Hospital Reform Mr. R. A. Wright (Government —Wellington Suburbs) quoted figures to show that New Zealand had been getting behind to the extent of £2,000,000 a year in payments of her debt. There should be a thorough investigation of the proposal to amalgamate hospital districts, provided this could be carried out without interfering with the welfare of patients. Tho cost of hospital administration had increased far too much in recent years. Mr. J. A. Nash (Government —Palmcrston) said that hospital administration in New Zealand had been reduced to a very fine art and he sincerely hoped the Government would not adopt the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission unless representatives of the Hospital Boards' Association were given an opportunity of placing their views before a Select Committee. He agreed that education boards could bp abolished. In view of the services which school committees were called upon to perform, he believed they were entitled to receive more consideration. The Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, referred to the report of the National Expenditure Commission. He said it had been necessary for the Government to formulate its policy on certain questions prior to receiving the report from the commission. The, Cabinet, in its wider survey of the position, had decided its attitude in regard to the destruction of rabbits, the fertiliser subsidy and the free carriage of h'me. It regarded these operations as investments which would offer a good return to the State.* The Government was quite satisfied that it would not be wise to give effect to the recommendations of the commission on these subjects, and consequently it would not do so. Tho debate was adjourned.