BUDGET DEBATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23278, 14 August 1945, Page 6

BUDGET DEBATE

Start Scheduled For To-night Adjournment If Japan Surrenders (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. In accordance with constitutional procedure the House of Representatives, by its own motion, having adjourned on Friday until 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday this week, members will require to meet at that time even if before to-morrow is out news arrives of the Japanese capitulation. While the House is master of its own standing orders it would be possible for the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser and Mr S. G. Holland to discuss the matter and agree to a deviation of this procedure with a provision for their action being regularised by resolution of the House later, it is not considered that there will be any departure from the time for resumption of the sitting provided for in Friday’s resolution. If Japan surrenders it seems unlikely when the House meets that the scheduled programnte will be carried out. While no official announcement has been made, the general opinion seems to be that an adjournment of a week or a fortnight will be taken. Members will want to take part in victory celebrations in their own districts, and in addition the Government will want to have the opportunity, no doubt, of surveying the new situation as well as making the various adjustments that will be called for. These will include matters associated with the release of men and women from the Forces both at home and overseas and that in itself will be a fairly big job. •Budget Adjustment Consideration will also have to be given to the question of whether the Budget presented by the Hon. W. Nash last weeK required adjusting in the light of new circumstances. First thoughts possibly lead to the conclusion that the proposed war expenditure of £105,400,000 can be cut substantially. It was pointed out to-day that while some adjustment will have to be made and that some reductions may be possible, the end of the war with Japan will not mean that war expenditure will cease immediately. The pay and allowances of the New Zealand Armed Forces will be a continuing liability and a substantial one until all the men and women are reabsorbed into civilian life. And then there is the cost of the war and other stores already produced under contracts or in process of being manufactured. It has to be remembered that nearly five months have gone of the year for which Mr Nash has budgeted. The end of the Japanese war would mean that more money would have to be provided in the current year for transporting the Armed Forces back to New Zealand, for mufti allowances and the payment of war gratuities. The Government has adhered to the policy enunciated in the first war budget that it is better that the utmost endeavour should be made now to pay for the war out of current income either by taxation or savings than to carry over a tremendous postwar liability, on the face of things, while the general bod’’ of taxpayers would welcome some relief, if they receive any. the indications are that it is not likely to be substantial.