BUDGET DEBATE.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 9, 2 August 1930, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE.

•MCijP*’ POSITION OF RAILWAYS. MR. J 0 B □ AM ’ S SUGGESTION. COMMITTEES OF RAILWAYMEN. WELLINGTON, Last Night.. Mr. W. J. Jordan, in the Budget Debate, said he considered better service by the railways -could be ensured if a committee of railwayworkers ‘were set up to consider the position. The time had arrived when, the Government could abolish firstclass carriages on suburban lines. No one ever used them. There were no first class carriages on trams and the ferry services. It seemed that the department was not out to make the service popular. Tht Gov. eminent was doing its best in setting up committees but he disagreed with the personnel of the Jbulway Commission. He complained that the various select committees of the House were consulted often enough on matters that came within their scope. It appeared that the House, and even Ministers themselves, did not have a s much say in the Government services as the department al heads.

Mr. Jordan expressed himself as strongly in favour of a voluntary defence force. He stated that the voluntary system had never been riven a lair trial in Now Zealand When it had been in existence before it had been starved, but he believed it should be encouraged.

CHEESE CRATES. Mr, H. G. Dickie (Patea) cited the fact that New Zealand oheqse had to he exported in crato g made of imported timber as evidence that the timber industry in the Dominion required overhauling. Referring to State advances he said ho had been looking forward to a tapering off in loans to workers. The housing shortage had largely been overcome and a loan to a settler was of far more advantage to the country than one for a worker, though he confessed he wanted to see all the workers housed. Dealing with the Budget economies Mr. Dickie said the Government had not mentioned the big bonus it had take*, from the producers. Provision had been made in last year’s estimates for money for the pork bonus, but just after the close of the session it had been announced that it was being withdrawn. U was useless for a Government spending millions on railway lines to talk of economy. l A 'tremendous saving in interest alone could bo made by effecting curtailment in that direction.

HOUSING REQUIREMENTS Mr. ]>. G. Sullivan denied that housing requirements had foeeq met. While there were empty houses in some places they were too large and expensive for the workers. The need for State advance for this pur. pose had not passed. Ho defended the completion of the South Island main trunk railway on the ground that the province of Marlborough had not yet been developed and would not bo until it was served by railways. Railways had rendered en. ormoug developmental service to the Dominion. When the line was put through it was, not merely a question of whether it was going to pay interest on capital expenditure and I operating costs. [f that view had j been held by the pioneers New Zea. ' land would still have been a backblocks country. Mr. Sullivan opposed the inipos. ition of the new tax on amusements and other taxes that.would reach a section of the community that could | ill jifoid to bear them. Ho assertj od that as soon as a. time of do. pression arrival the worker was ask. j ed to become a shareholder and bear | part of »l io burden, but when, pros--1 porous times came lie was never in. | vited to share in increased prices and dividends. 1 j INDEPENDENTS criticised. j Mr. C. 11. Ohnkard criticised the | action of the independents in vot_ | mg against the Government the pro- | viou* evening. Ho tasked whether they would have voted the same way had they thought the Government would have been defeated and the Uoform Thirty returned to the Trees, nry benches. Ho particularly took exception to the attitude ~f Mr. hlotehor and insisted that the fairest course for the member for Giv.y bynn to have taken would have Ikhmi to |,,)11,,w Hie lead of Mr. Jenkins. Mr. Netcher had been elected |, O tile I louse as a member of the Tin lied .Party and if he intended i„ vote against the parly on n 1H) -con. tnienc<i issue lie should first have sought the endorsement of |,i s e | (1( . tors lor Ids changed attitude. Referring to Amp,mi Mr. Clinkard 1,0 ll!l(J ail ' v;l -vs been 0 f opinion that the work should never J lim . ,W ' ! Il,,( lertaken because of the nat. ui'o of the country. J'm House rose at 5.30 p. m . till P.m. on Tuesday