A BUDGET SPEECH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 8

A BUDGET SPEECH.

CRTTIOISM AND COMPLIMENTS. MB WITTY ON THE GOVERNMENT. (From Otm Correspondent;] WELLINGTON, August 14. Commencing with compliments, Mr tV'itty in his Financial debate contribution soon became critical, sustaining this attitude throughout the remainder of an hour's speech. He congratulated Sir Joseph Ward upon his work as Finance Minister. He was raising money in tho best way possible, raising it among ourselves. Tho speaker had never known a Budget equal to it. There were anomalies, but an effort had been made to place taxation on the shoulders of those best able to bear it. " I don't think there is any othci man," said Mr Witty, " who could have brought down such a Budget, such loan proposals and raised such a, largo surplus as tho present Mimstei of Finance." He would have liked to see a larger land tax on big estates, «o as to burst them up for tho beneht | of the soldiers fighting for us. Ino, speculator who did not get an inconio! from land but was wanting to get money out of dealing, was not touched by taxation. Exchanges of land should , be sublet to an -extra tax, for tnem was more roguery and litigation oyer this than anything else. Ho urged tho Government to set aside the remaining fo-if million acres of national endowment land as an endowment for soldiers' widows and orphans. It it. did nothing etee, the Coalition Government (for it was not a National Government) should do this. , Sir Joseph Ward (referring to the coalition title): How do you make that out? ~„ 1 Mr Witty: There's a difference, and you know that as wi?U a3 anybody. Continuing, Mr Witty urged tho Government to take tho whole of income ever £6400, for that was more than a man could spend during a year, j Last session ho had suggested a tax on amusements. Ho found the Government proposing a ono-sixth tax on a sixpenny ticket, but only one-twelfth on a six shilling ticket- Tea shops in draper's establishments, ho regarded as illegitimate trading, and they should bo taxed. Racing people woi'.? taxed last year to tho extent of L'251,40b', but if £SO was taken from the '■ woivsars " there would bo .a howl. Why continue to ask for higher taxation on racing or tho stoppage of bport? The little that had been done tea- providing land for soldiers was quite inadequate for the future. Not ono industry had been started to give cp.vnings for the thousands or soldiers who would eventually come back. COST OF LIVING NEGLECTED. When the Coalition Government was formed the public were assured that there would be a reduction in the cost of living. Instead prices had gone up by leaps and bounds. Meat had gone up to double its pre-war price. Stores were being extended to hold back meat from our own people. High prices had induced inordinate slaughter of ewes, threatening a shortage in flocks. Butter was soiling in Australia from New Zealand at Is per pound, yet New Zea-landers-could not get it. Tho Government had failed absolutely to keep down tho cost of living or stop exploitation by merchants. There had been inquiry alter inquiry. Why did not the Government do something? Money was being wasted by Government departments. Though engines were idle a large number of officials still remained to direct railway traffic. Education was being starved. Unauthorised expenditure showed a. disgraceful waste of £328 2s Sri for trips to llanmer Springs, to that friends of the Minister of Health could see him addressing an assemblage. It was one of the niost damnable pieces of waste he had seen. lion G. W. Russell: If you ask for a return I'll give it. Mr Witty: The money ought to have been spent on a cottage for a soldier's widow. Mr Okey: They do love one another. Mr Witty asked the Minister of Munitions why all details of tenders were not published. Hon A. M. -Myers: I welcome investigation of all details. Mr Witty quoted correspondence showing thai the Minister had refused to disclose to a firm the name of a successful tenderer. Mr Myers: Yes. I was protecting the public interest. Mr Witty asked why men failing to register worn only lined £5, while men who by mistake failed to notify a change of address were more severely dealt with. There had been an unfair «mount of exemptions under the Military Service Act, becauso the boards thought certain managers indispensable. Why wer 0 not the so-called medical rojc:'rs re-examined? Sir James Allen: There aie 500 of jhem going into camp next month.