PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 17427, 20 August 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

THE HOUSE. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, August 19. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Homan Catholic Archbishop Emwwering Bill (Sir W. Buchanan) was cead a third time and passed. THE BUDGET. The Budget debate was resumed by Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) who com'plalned that the Budget was devoid of any indication of that great era of reform which the people had been led to expect. There was an entire absence of constructive policy, or legislation Heralding social betterment,, or national insurance against sickness and invalidity. He criticised the cryptic references to proposals such as local government reform and Imperial defence. The Minister of Defence had formerly committed himself to an independent navy, but since his return from the Old Country he had evidently changed his views. It was well for him that he had done so. He ventured the prediction that no party which proposed an Independent navy would ever be returned to the Treasury Benches. He denounced the Upper House reform proposals of the Government as calculated to set up a second Chamber which would dominate the Lower House. There was not one word In the Budget about economy, and it was well-known that enormous waste was going on in defence. There was plenty of borrowing in the Budget, but the Government party had always deborrowing. The Increase of the public debt had been repeatedly denounced by that party, but there was never a word about the assets against that debt until the Treasurer went to England. Then he used the finance of his opponents to help him to raise his own loan. On the land policy the Premier dare not now put into effect some of the doctrines he had enunciated before the election, such as the sale of the national endowments. There was no reference to reduction of taxation, cneaper cost of living. The Premier was now endorsing a policy he had condemned before the election. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) admitted that the country was prosperous, but it was not so because of the present Government’s finance. He compared the chivalrous conduct of Sir J. G. Ward in England In assisting Air Allen, with the tactics of the Government members when in Opposition, viliifying the credit of the dominion. He had been trying to get information regarding the working of the Land Act. but his questions remained unanswered for two months. The native land was not being opened up. in ■plte of the Government legislation. He criticised as a pretence the Government’s promise to give the people a square deal. Public appointments as party rewards and political patronage were as rife as ever. It was a singular thing that Interest rose with the advent of the Reform Government, but money would have been cheaper had Sir J. G. Ward remained in power. Where was the assured finance for local bodies? Where was cheaper money for the workers? Those were things the Premier declared for before he came into power. Now they were never heard of. Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) chided the Government supporters for refusing to speak in defence of the Party s Budget. The general policy in connection with the Budget was one of disappointment at the absence of a policy and the intentions of the Government. IVhen the Government came into power the Consolidated Fund was overflowing, and the Government was now no longer able to talk of ‘'galloping to a deficit when as a result of Liberal finance they were able to transfer £730,000 to the Public Works Fund. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr I*. Mander (Marsdon) who followed Mr Sidey, considered that the present Government had pone further In one year than the previous one had in any one of twenty-one years they were lit office. He praised the Administration of removing Government appointments from the sphere of political influence. Referring to the graduated land tax, ho said that he had heard Mr Massey say that if the present tax did not prove sufficient to force the large land owners to break up their estates he would increase it Mr L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) referred to the recent statements regarding the ownership of certain newspapers, which, lie said, had been made with a view to showing that the Liberal Parly was identified with the brewers. He gave this a strong denial. He reproached the Government by stating that Judge McCormack's report on the Cook Islands, which was completed either in November or December. 1912, had not yet been laid on the table of the House. Air Alassey interjected that he hoped It would be done in the course of a few days. The debate was continued by Air Payne, and the House adjourned at half-past eleven p.m.