PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21849, 28 October 1932, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

FINANCIAL DEBATE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MINERS DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 27. Varied views on the affairs of the country were expressed by members of Parliament during the course of the continuance of the Financial Debate in the House to-day, but taken generally the speeches were not particularly interesting and with the exception of Mr P. Fraser (L., Wellington Central) Labour members have now exhausted the right to speak and the debate was carried on this evening by Government members. Resuming the debate this afternoon Mr J. Connelly (C., Mid-Canterbury) said it was still necessary for the country to practise economies owing to the low prices of primary products and general financial conditions. He felt sure that the time would come when the people would look back on the present difficulties as an experience and not as a catastrophe. He stressed the necessity for new markets for primary produce. Figures from meat exported to London showed a net return of 1/- per head while the people in New Zealand were unable to get meat. Mr W. E. Parry (L., Auckland Central) declared that Britain was more concerned about what she could sell to New Zealand than about what she could take from New Zealand. The Government should see that an even balance of trade was maintained. Mr H. M. Campbell (C., Hawkes Bay) blamed State interference for a greater part of the country’s troubles and suggested that a commission should be appointed to inquire into the schoolbooks contract and Orders-in-Council affecting picture theatres. Mr H. G. R. Mason (L., Auckland Suburbs) said that there was practically no evidence of policy in the Budget and said that if the Government looked to financiers overseas to lead them out of their troubles it would be a case' of the blind leading the blind. Ministers Criticized. Mr W. P. Endean (C., Parnell) criticized the work of the Attorney-Gen-eral and said that it appeared that the office was falling into disuse. He added that he did not think the present Minister was’fit to hold the position. He also criticized Sir Apirana Ngata for the way he was spending money on native lands.. Mr R. A. Wright (C., Wellington Suburbs) blamed the Government for not protecting the railways from road competition and said that heavy expenditure on motor transport was largely responsible for the present financial position of the country. The Dominion had invested £60,000,000 in the railways and could not afford to scrap them, and it was foolish to allow other concerns to prevent the people from paying interest on money they had expended. Mr J. A. Nash (C., Palmerston) strongly supported the present system of hospital control and criticized the Commission for suggesting a change. He also criticized the suggestion that charges for school dental services should be increased. It was not fair to impute unworthy motives to the members of the Commission, said the Hon C. E. McMillan. Their report was a valuable one in spite of the fact that he did not agree with all that was in it. The Government would give effect to some of the recommendations, but not all of them. The commission had recommended the abolition of subsidies for rabbit destruction, fertilizers and carriage of lime, but the Government looked upon those items as good investments because they increased production and brought returns to the Consolidated Fund.

Mining Enterprises. Referring to mining, the Minister said that he would like to be in a position to make large grants to those seeking gold because he believed the goldmining industry was about to see important developments. Every effort was being made to give an impetus to mining and the Unemployment Board was giving valuable assistance in that direction. Where companies were concerned loans might be made and he believed such a course would lead to a greater development than straigfitout grants. He was in favour of the Government taking a royalty on all gold won provided the money so obtained was put into the fund for the development of other mining ventures. Continuing, Mr MacMillan dealt with the position of the Arapuni power works at considerable length, and said that there was no need for alarm as the plant was quite stable and quite capable of carrying on. He was quite satisfied after having carefully investigated the scheme that the people of New Zealand had a good investment there. Mr F. Lye (C., Waikato), moved the adjournment of the debate at 11.25 and the House adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.