UNEXPECTED MOVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23719, 27 July 1940, Page 13

UNEXPECTED MOVE

REVISING STATEMENT

OPPOSITION AMENDMENT DEFEAT ON PARTY LINES [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday An amendment aimed at securing a heavy reduction of civil expenditure on public works was moved unexpectedly in the House of Representatives this morning by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo) at tho conclusion of his speech. Mr. Broadfoot moved that the motion for the adoption of the Public Works Statement should be referred back to the Government for further consideration with a view to effecting a substantial reduction in expenditure other than that required for war purposes. The amendment was seconded by Sir Alfred Hansom (Opposition—Pahiatua). A division resulted in the amendment being defeated by .'36 votes to 17, voting being on party lines. "LITTLE PARTY TRICK" MR. FRASER RUFFLED SUPPORTER OPPOSES ECONOMY [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday In his speech in the House to-day Mr. J. Robertson (Government —Masterton) referred to tho Opposition amendment regarding the Public Works Statement and claimed that while decrying public works expenditure generally members of the Opposition were asking for fresh works to be done. He challenged them to say what works should be stopped in their own electorates. There was an immediate chorus of replies.

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser: A miserable little party trick is not worth getting excited about. Mr. Robertson: I agree, but if speeches from the other side were given effect to the amended Public Works Estimates would come back three or four times their present size. Later in his speech Mr. Robertson said that far from supporting a reduction in the Public Works Estimates he would like to see a vote for the Rimutaka Tunnel.

STATE FLAX PACK SCHEME

VOTE OF £165,000 EXPLAINED MACHINERY AND LAND [BY TELEGRArH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday An explanation of the vote of £165,000 for the rehabilitation plan for the flaxmilling industry was given by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. 'Nash, in the House to-day. He said the amount was needed for machinery for the expansion of the flax pack factory at Foxton and .for the purchase of a flax estate. The land had been taken under the Public Works Act, but the price that the Government had to pay was now under arbitration.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton: So it cannot be stopped. Mr. Nash: It is undesirable to stop it, because the factory cannot work without that block of land. * LAND FOR MAORI SOLDIERS SIR A. NGATA'S SUGGESTION [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday The opening up ol 50.000 to 60.000 acre blocks in the Taupo district and the King Country for settlement by Maori ( soldiers when they returned from the war was advocated by Sir Apirana Ngata (Opposition—Eastern Maori) in the House to-day. He considered that expenditure on a rehabilitation programme would be worth , , XL The rates of interest charged on the capital value of native land for settlement were criticised by Sir Apirana, who said the Maoris did not have the advantage of cheap money made available to the State through the Reserve Bank. He asked that all the facts should \bc placed before the Native Affairs Committee, so that Maori members would be able to satisfy their people that they were getting a fair deal. The Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, said that the whole of the figures would be supplied to the committee.

POLICE PAY CRITICISED COMPLAINT OF NEGLECT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday "I think the police are shockingly underpaid in view of the service thev give to the State," said- Mr. •S. G. Holland (Opposition Christchurch North) when the estimates for the Police Department were before the House. _ . .. . , "The Commissioner of Police is the worst paid head of a department in JSew Zealand, and nowhere is there a better civil servant," Mr. Holland continued. He quoted the salaries of heads of othei departments substantially in excess or the amount paid to the Commissioner of Police, and said he considered this branch of the service had > been "^TheMinister in charge of the department, the Rt. Hon. P. Frascr sa.d he thought the police were satisfied. Iho pay of the rank and file compared with anything paid to similar forces in the world. However, the heads could not be said to be overpaid. Mr Holland: Other people can get rises The broadcasting head got a rise. Mr Eraser paid a tribute to the efficiency of the force and its willingness to work long hours in a time of crisis. PLEA FOR ELDERLY MEN [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Friday A plea for consideration for elderly men when public works staffs were heinc reduced was made by Mr. F. W. Doidge (Opposition— Tauranga) during consideration of the Public Works Statement in the House to-day. f "When carrving out reductions, Mr Doidge said, "will the Minister hear in mind the fact that some of those being put oft' have been with the public works for lo or 20 years, and sometimes we have younger men who have been with the _ department only two years being retained. '