DEBATE IN HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 192, 14 August 1931, Page 6

DEBATE IN HOUSE.

Member Criticises Labour Proposal. PLAN TO GET REVENUE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 14. The House of Representatives met at 10.30. The Wanganui Church Acre Amendment (Private) Bill was reported from Committee of Selection without amendment. Mr A. E. Jull (United, Waipawa), resuming the Budget debate, replied to the suggestion from a Labour member that an additional £2,000,000 could be obtained from death duties. He characterised such a line of action as an unsound policy, because the country would actually be using up its capital to carry on yearly allocations. Everyone who had been connected with business concerns would know what difficult situations arose when it became necessary to provide huge sums for death duties. New Zealand did not possess such a reservoir of accumulated wealth as there was in Great Britain and it therefore was not; possible to dip into it with the same apparent lack of difficulty. He added that even in Britain the lack of difficulty was only apDarent. Mr Jull defended the actions of the Government in regard to highways, finance and said that, despite the allegations by Reform members that the revenue of the Highways Board had been reduced as a result of contraventions of the Act, the actual revenue of the board had increased by £200,000 in one year. Alleged Warnings. Mr Endean said the Reform Party had guided the ship of State through glorious seas up to the year 1928, but in that year there had been a change to a Government which had allied itself with the Labour Party. The Reform Party had warned the Government of the depression, but the warning had not been heeded in time. The payment of standard wages on relief works and other extravagances had heaped up taxation until the country was bled white. Had the Reform Party continued in office the Budget would have been different from the one the Prime Minister had introduced. Mr Endean complained that New Zealand’s financial advisers had not taken sufficient notice of Australia, and he quoted warnings made to the Government by members of the Reform Party. The Leader of the Opposition had suggested a short session of Parliament, but the Government of the day had been ro lacking in vision that it had not taken timely action. Had the Government of the day heeded that advice there would have been a saving to the country of a million and a quarter in economies. The Government had not grappled seriously with the cost of living. If the prices of the Dominion’s products did not recover, costs would have to come down in conformity.

Mr Endean said a start would have to be made on farms not only in regard to the wages of shearers and shepherds, but also in farming operations generally. Transport charges would have to be reduced and there was a necessity for rationalising the industry. Foreign Shipping Menace.

Mr Endean advocated taking some action in connection with the operations of the Matson shipping line in trading with New Zealand. He referred to the Jones-White Act under which this United States line was subsidised, and said that in the very preamble of the Act itself it was stated that this assistance was being given to enable the commerce of the United States to be extended and to provide auxiliary shipping services in time of war. It must be realised that Britain had been reduced to parity with the United States in respect of naval armaments, and her personnel was actually less. Would the public of New Zealand acquiesce in sweeping our own shipping off the Pacific? British vessels were not allowed to trade between Honolulu and United States ports. He drew attention to the already unfavourable trade balance with America, and submitted that the public should assert themselves and insist on American vessels trading on an equal footing with British-owned vessels. The Hon J. B. Donald: How could you do that? Air Endean: Don’t let Anferican vessels trade between New Zealand ports. Air Donald: How could you stop them?—This House would pass the necessary legislation. The international shipping laws would not allow it.—We would soon see about that.