PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 26, 1 October 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. '( ‘ ' i-. 1 legislative council. Wellington, September 30. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Land and Income Tax Bill, am the Land Tax Assessment Amend ment Bill were read d‘second time. The Counicl rose at A o’clock. i HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. Mr 51 assey gave notice to move that on and after 6th October the Hottsc should sit on, 51 on day* at 7.30 p.m. The Education Committee reported on a petition praying for university reform. On the motion of the Prime Minister the debate on thb report was adjourned till later in the week. The New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Bill and Local Elections arid Polls Amendment Bill were read a third time. LOAX EXPENDITURE.

The Hon. J. Allen moved the second reading of the Aid to Public Work?, and Land Settlement Bill. The Bill provided for £600,000 for the construction of railways, instead' of £BOO,OOO as was the ease last'year; also half la million, instead of £300,000. for additions to rolling stock. 51r Allen said that he was endeavouring to arrange the expenditure of loan money so that it would not run out in November as it did now, but would last till March in each year. The million and three quarters loan was required for the above purposes, and land settlement and roads and bridges. During the past year £619,106 was expended on the construction of railways, which was somewhat less than the previous year. The expenditure on all railway works was the largest expenditure for the past six years. Dealing with the public debt, be said that

from 31st March to Ist July (Mackenzie Government) the debt increased by £2,574,690. For the other nine months of the year the increase was £2,925,460. He was pleased to state 'that for the five months just passed there was an improvement in the revenue as compared with the expenditure. Compared with the previous period, this year’s figures show an increase of revenue to the extent of £172,551. He did not include cash derived from the sale of land, which was now transferred to tire Land and Settlement Fund. Tf lie added that amount it would make a difference of £225,000. The increase of expenditure for the five months ending 31st August was £146,530. t The increase of revenue exceeded the increase of expenditure by £26,021. Provision had been made for all loan monies coming lue this year, and New Zealand never stood in a better position financially. He had to provide £150,000 for school buildings next year. There were mental hospitals, workers’ homes, and postal buildings to be provided for also. Sir J. Ward said that Mr Allen’s optimism was gratifying compared with the gloomy views formerly expressed by him when he (Sir J. Ward) was in jffice. The Minister claimed the ere-, lit of the improved financial position, out at whose expense had iie kept town expenditure to, gef, an improved position ? It was at the- expense of the jettlers and because he had tot lent money to the' settlers and Yorkers. He starved these sections' if the community, as a proof of which ie quoted the money actually loaned iy the Ward Government to settlers aid workers during the last year of office. The failure to expend unexhausted authorities was not a legitimate method of improving the financial position. He expressed gratification at the success of recent loans, 1 jut asked on whose finance these remits had been achieved? Surely Air Allen did not claim that it was on his nvn finance. Such a claim was abmrd, because no change had been nade in the finance of the country or n the incidence of taxation, while the irospectns in connection with the reent loan proved on whose finance the access of that loan rested. He coinilained of the comparisons made bewcen the cost of raising the £3,000,i ,00 4 per cent.- loan with the £5,00,000,3,i per cent-, us!the,period of urrency was altogether different. On hat everything depended. - Much had ,een made of lokna falling due, but here wqs not, a , court ry in the world mt had renewals falling; due. . In the afe, of Australia, oyer -£170,000,000 .pa falling, due shortly,,. but the fact ./as, not paraded .for party purpose#*. ,ii copcjusion he,desired to point out , hat. the, Government h?d .not discjps- ' d, what pujoupti ik ppoposied to bqrow- for advances ,tp settlers pnd wor fins.

Mr Massey, in reply, quoted Clause 8 of the Guaranteed Advances Bill ow before the House, to show that the' fovernment were taking full power o meet all reasonable requirements.

.'ho figures quoted by. the Finance ■linistey.. relating ' to the increase .pf evenue over expenditure lie huoyaqt/ state of the, county’s ina nces, and'falsified,all that had been iid by tha Opposition for the pasf 2 years, toj the effect tlqit if the Be-! arm Government succeeded to the

.reasury benches chaotic conditions , ould prevail. He quoted figures show.ig that each of the Austrafian States aised loans on recent dates at similar

aces to New Zealand’s .loans. Tne iost satisfactory phase of the counry’s condition was the fact that all no time the exports were going up. leafing with the Consolidated Fund, if Massey said that lie agreed with Mr Alien that the immigration charges lid salaries of Public Works officers noiild be charged against tile Consolilated Fund.

The House resumed at 7.30 pan

The debate on the Aid to Public Forks Bill was continued, the tenor r the Opposition criticism being that he prosperity of the country is due td the policy of .the,Liberal administraions and not id anything done liy the Massey Government. The Hon. J. Allen, replying, said chat lie had to find the money for onimitments for previous Governnent buildings commenced all oyer the country. That was why they had to Arrow. After those were met the •nances would be put upon a sound iasis. His object in endeavouring to nsike loan money hold over till March vas to obviate using any of the snr>lns of the consolidated fund. He ommented on the fact that over two lillions were advanced to settlors during election year, and suggested that lembers would know what that meant. ( hey had never cut down advances, nit had gone on lending so long as .hey could lend. They were lending lose on £IOO,OOO monthly, and over a million a year. That was a complete uswer to those who were suggesting mat they were not doing their duty by the settlers and workers. The Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill was read a second time and the House rose at 12.40.