DULL DEBATE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 191, 13 August 1931, Page 16

DULL DEBATE.

Notes on Parliamentary Topics. EDUCATION ‘EXPENDITURE. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, August 12. The continuation of the debate on the Financial Statement in the House to-dav was without special incident. Members discussed not only the Budget but their special topics on familiar lines, though the Hon H. Atmore cut across the track of economy advocates by strongly defending expenditure on education, declining to admit extravagance on primary education, though conceding probable waste* through secondary schools having pupils without aptitude. He was supported by a former Minister of Education, Mr Wright, who agreed that economy was undesirable in the primary sphere. The debate was so dull that there was little surprise when Mr Speaker nearly brought it to an end by putting the question. However, the Hon A J. Murdoch, Minister of Agriculture, saved the position and the opportunities of members ■who expect to catch the Speaker’s eye on Friday by valiantly filling the breach on extempore lines until a Ministerial colleague arrived with his notes. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Southern Maori member Economies. Rumours of a second wages cut in the public service were the basis of a pointed interjection by Mr Holland, leader of the Labour Party, during the Budget debate speech of the Hon A. J. Murdoch in the House to-night. The Minister had been referring to economies carried out by the Government, and he observed that it was not possible to make economies too deep at the outset, but it was necessary to go quietly along in order to prevent deleterous effects. Mr Holland: Does that mean that what we have had is only an instalment ? The Minister: You are anticipating. I am not of a pessimistic turn of mind, and I think the time will come when we shall see an improvement in our general conditions. A Reform member: The sooner the better. “Turning the corner?” queried another Reformer. The Minister: That was the catch cry of the last Government. (Laughter). We don’t suggest that we are turning the corner, but we suggest that by a sound basis and careful management we will win out. Political Propaganda. Mr Carr (Labour, Timaru) asked the Postmaster-General in the House to-day whether it was in accordance with the Government’s policy to permit party political propaganda to be broadcast, as he alleged had been done by Mr A. C. Cameron, retiring president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, from 4YA on Monday, and if so whether he would give an opportunity for a broadcast reply from the same station.

The Hon J. B. Donald replied to the first part of this question in the negative, and added that that being f he case there was no need to reply to the latter part. Unemployment Board’s Funds. Mr Fletcher (Independent, Grey Lynn) asked whether instructions had been issued to the Unemployment Board that its expenditure must be limited to £50.000 per week. The Prime Minister replied that no such instruction had been issued. The Board, however, was required to live within its income. Mr W. Nash (Labour, Hutt) asked whether sufficient funds would be provided to enable the Unemployment Board to make allocations to local authorities sufficient to pay for the usual period of work under No. 5 scheme. The Prime Minister said the Board was allocating up to the limits of its funds. It was hoped to provide more work on public works during the next few months. / Chatham Islands Wharf. Chatham Islanders who have to use surfboats for handling cargo are to secure the advantage of a good wharf. The Government has informed Mr M’Combs, who represents the Island, that it has approved of the construction of a wharf costing £IB,OOO, of which Chatham Island County will find £IO,OOO. Plans and specifications have been prepared and tenders are to be ca lied' forthwith.