DULL DEBATE

Southland Times, Issue 21832, 8 October 1932, Page 6

DULL DEBATE

THE BUDGET LITTLE INTEREST SHOWN EARLY CLOSURE APPARENT (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 7. The continuation of the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-day did not prove particularly interesting and indications are that the debate will not last as long as usual. The first Labour speaker, Mr H. T. Armstrong (L., Christchurch East) expressed disappointment with the result of the Ottawa Conference and advocated an increased market for New Zealand goods within the Dominion and the first speaker for the Government, the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa) dealt with the possibilities of markets in the Pacific. The Rev. C. L. Carr (L., Timaru) said the Government was condemned as it were out of its own mouth by the Commission’s report. Was it economy to impoverish the Plunket Society and restrict the school dental and medical services? What would be the effect on the race? Nothing could be accomplished while the control , of money was in private hands. Prices could be stabilized in New Zealand and there was no necessity for the prices paid overseas to determine the prices paid here. The problems confronting producers were discussed by Mr W. J. Polson (1., Stratford), who said that lower costs were required to save farmers from ruin. The Expenditure Commission’s report was not an impeachment of the Government, but was an attempt to show how conditions could be adjusted to meet the altered times. He spoke in favour of supporting essential industries, provided they were on a sound basis. Any increase in taxation would be a mistake because the more money claimed by the State through taxation the less money there would be available for industry and consequently the Government should endeavour to reduce taxation so that trade could increase. “It was most regrettable that the prestige of the Parliamentary institution in New Zealand was not high,” Mr H. M. Rushworth (C.P., Bay of Islands) said, and added that he feared it was falling further because it has become inefficient, or at any rate not sufficiently efficient. There was a mistaken idea about efficiency. It was very nice for the Government to steam-roller the thing through the House, but that was not necessarily efficiency. The powers of the Opposition had been whittled away and he was in favour of restoring them in some measure because under the present conditions it was only a waste of time for the Opposition to attend Parliament. The adjournment was moved at 5.30 until 2.30 on Tuesday.