FINAL STAGES

Southland Times, Issue 21853, 2 November 1932, Page 8

FINAL STAGES

BUDGET DEBATE. LITTLE INTEREST SHOWN. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter). Wellington, November 1. Views expressed by members during the course of the final stages of the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-day were very similar to those put forward during the earlier stages of the debate and very little public interest was shown in the proceedings of the House. Mr C. H. Clinkard (C., Rotorua) spoke for a time when the debate was resumed and dwelt at length with the reason for Rotorua receiving Government subsidies. He also claimed that New Zealand manufacturers should be able to compete with British firms without the need of protection of high tariffs. Mr J. Linklater (C., Manawatu) referred to the position of the superannuation funds and said that he was opposed to the conditions governing the retirement of women contributors being altered. He suggested that contingent power boards might be amalagamated. Mr K. S. Williams (C., Bay of Plenty) said the National Expenditure Commission’s report was a valuable document, but criticized the proposal to withdraw the subsidy for the destruction of rabbits. The Government was the largest landholder in the Dominion and if it did not destroy rabbits on its holdings, they would soon overrun the country. Mr R. W. Hawke (C., Kaiapoi) dealt with the poultry industry and said that it was of considerable importance to New Zealand, as the export of eggs had grown rapidly during recent years and could be still further developed. The Prime Minister commenced his reply at 10.30 and at 11.30 the House went into Committee of Supply but reported progress immediately and asked for leave to sit again. In reply to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Forbes said that private members’ bills would be taken tomorrow afternoon and the Customs Amendment Bill would be brought down. The Minister of Public Works would be in charge of the Bill and Mr Forbes could not say whether further resolutions would be required or not. If further resolutions were necessary they would have to be taken before the bill. If other business were required to occupy the time of the House, further consideration would be given to the bill dealing with the restoration of miners’ widows pensions. The House then rose until 2.30 tomorrow.