LABOUR POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 10

LABOUR POLICY

LEADER IN DEFENCE ' J'. ' A OPPOSITION TWITTED QUESTION OF ADJUSTMENTS > NO SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS ".., ■/•■ i ,/■• (From Our Parliamentary Reporter' WELLINGTON, Aug; 23." Arguments used by members; of. the Opposition in criticism of the proposals contained' in the Budget were replied to by the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) in bringing to a close the financial debate in the House of Representatives to-night. They had charged the Government with squandering money and general extravagance, Mr Fraser said, but they steadfastly refused to say in what direction they would curtail expenditure or make savings. • / " The Budget had been favourably received by the country, though no one expected for a minute that the taxation increases would be popular," Mr Fraser said. "The number of resolutions of protest against the Budget proposals had beeri surprisingly small. The reason that a large majority of the people of \he country approve the Budget is the great increase in social services they are enjoying. They also realise that the question of defence, particularly at this moment, has to be faced up to, and that extra money is required. There is general acquiescence in the Budget so far as the public is concerned,: if .we separate the press from the public. The last two elections have proved that the press hardly ever represents the majority of the people of the country." No Depression Outlook The Budget, Mr Fraser continued, did not contain a depression outlook, nor did it suggest that this country had reached the full level of-de-velopment. The Financial, Statement proclaimed the right of ..the people to control the destinies olthis country through their elected representatives. It said that credit and currency should be utilised in a wise, sensible and scientific way so- as to provide for an equitable distribution., of wealth in return for services rendered. "• '■■■■■'■■■ An Opposition member: What does the member for Grey Lynn/say?. Mr Fraser said there was difference; as far as the Government's policy and Labour Party principles were concerned, between,thei member for Grey Lynn and other Government members. The Government believed that by the effective use of the economic Organism the prosperity of the country could be promoted. - The Opposition contended that the Government had gone too far and must go back, he added. The debate had at least broken the " hedging" of members of the Opposition in that respect. Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North) had said that the Opposition did not want to reduce wages, pensions or social services, or to interfere,with the 40-hour, week.. There were' apparently other Opposition members who did not agree, with that, for the member for Kaipara (Mr J. G. Coates). had ( said that the-40rhour week must- go; - Mr Holland: No, he didn't Mr Fraser: Yes, he did, as defhi-. itely as words could make it, and so did the member for Pahiatua. (Sir Alfred Ransom). » . "- ' "The members of the Opposition belong to a depressionist party/', Mr Fraser said. "Why cannot;they be specific, and, when theiy tell the Government it is squandering money and is far too extravagant, why do they not say where adjustments can be made? Apparently their is to say anything so long as it is detrimental to the Government.: A Challenge Unanswered ' / "The Leader of-the Opposition (Mr Adam Hamilton) said in his speech that the Government was raiding every reserve and this statement was taken up by other members of the Opposition," Mr-Fraser said. "Early in the debate the member for Oamaru (the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer) challenged the Opposition to specify what reserve the Government had raided. That challenge had.not been accepted. The present Government has presented balanced Budgets. That-cannot be said of all Governments that have been in this country.. With this Government the Budget "has been balanced on every occasion and capital expenditure has not by borrowing but from departmental resources, from Post Office, savings and by calling on the credit of the country through the Reserve Bank.