PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 190, 13 August 1931, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

FINANCIAL DEBATE EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION REPLY BY HON. H. ATMORE [ Per Presa Association. ] WELLINGTON, Aug. 12. Resuming the financial debate in the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr K. 8. Williams (Reform, Bay of Plenty) said he wished to impress on the Government the necessity for developing the flax industry with a view to utilising not only the first grade product but also the second and third-grade flax. Commenting on the proposal to set up a commission to deal with the question of local body rating, he urged that the thorough investigation should be made regarding native rates, because many counties were seriously affected and a big burden was placed on the farmers through tnc inability of the natives to contribute. Mr Williams remarked that if the Budget proposals were put through the country would be in a position of not being able to carry any further taxation, and any steps that, could be taken to cut down overhead costs in local and national Government, -would be. justified. He thought it would bo fair to the taxpayers to investigate whether it was possible to have fewer members in Parliament.

Mr H. T. Armstrong (Labour. Christchurch East), said he would like to remind Mr Williams that there had boon 80 Members of Parliament (as at present) when the population of the Dominion had been one third or less of the present population. There had reccnt’y been a suggestion that there should be no interference with the country representation in Parliament, but that the number of city members should be reduced. lie pointed out that the city members represented human beings, and he sincerely hoped that whether the representation was increased or not, that it would be based on mon. women, and children and not on sheep and cattle. Education Vote. Mr Armstrong defended the expenditure on education and said that New Zealand was not spending money in this quarter out of proportion to the increase in population. Education was one of the last •things on which there should be an ’ attempt to economise. Mr Armstrong declared that a more unjust tax than that on sugar and tea could not be imagined. Wcalhy people received exemptions from income tax but the more children a poor man had the more he had to pay in indirect taxation.

Mr 11. AL Ruslr.yorth (Country, Bay of Islands), asked if the Prime Minister had claimed historical interest for the Budget because it was the first move in the Niemeyer pian. After discussing the general position of the country, he said that very many economies could still be effected. For instance there might bo economies in ihe High Commissioner’s Office in London. There also was scope for saving in the direction of Mr Wilkinson’s scheme regarding silver and copper coinage, and again in the direction of Air Fletcher’s proposal for petrol plants in the Dominion. These suggestions, however, had been ignored, and one was left with the uneasy feeling that in these quarters there were powerful interests, and the Government was preferring the easier course of taxing that section of the community least able to look after itself. Air Rushworth declared that he was definitely and permanently opposed to taxing the necessities of life. Reply to Criticism. Hon. 11. Atmore, replying to the criticism by Air Campbell of the previous evening on the Government’s attitude concerning relief in Hawke’s Bay, contended that the Government’s sympathy had been of a very material kind. He then went on to deal with educational matters, stating that he was rather surprised at Air Polson’s suggestion of economics in education. With reference to secondary education, the Alinister said that Air Polson should know that no pupil entered a secondary school free of charge unless he had passed a test. He disagreed with the contention that the secondary education was not necessary for the worker. It was becoming more and more necessary to the workman. The need for education was becoming increasingly important, particularly in the country districts The increase in the educational expenditure of late years had been largely due to the effort to introduce educational facilities in the country districts. He pointed out that whereas capital cost of education a child in a large city school was £5, in the country it was £5 15s. Alorcover, requests were being received from farmers for an increase of facilities for the transportation of children to schools. Air Atmore contended that it was little use of talking of land development if there were no educational facilities handy. People would not take their children to places where they could not enjoy the benefits of education facilities. Air R. A. Wright (Reform, Wellington Suburbs) held that what members were complaining of concerning secondary education was that children were receiving it who had no aptitude for it. Children were attending secondary schools for a year or perhaps two only. This was useless. They should be compelled to stay longer than that if their education was to be of any use to them. . Shipping Menace. Air Wright went on to refer to what he termed ”a menace to the shipping of the Dominion.” This comprised the subsidisation of steamers by the United States Government to compete with our own shipping in the Pacific. Members had been circularised, he said, showing them what a menace such action could prove to be. We could defend ourselves from it by means of legislation and should do so. It was unfair competition for the United States to subsidise steamers to compete with our own shipping here, and the Government should adopt the means to combat it. The Hon. A. J. Murdoch said that the Prime Alinister had taken the only s nd he could in the Budget in view of the position of things to-day, but he felt sure that we were turning the corner. With careful management wo should win out. Some members had raised the question of our trade with Canada and had alleged that the

Prime Minister had adopted Ihe use of the mailed fist in this direction. Such was not the case. Wo were ready at any time to trade with Canada provided sho would do the fair thing by us. If Canada continued to impose heavy tariffs on us wc must do the same to her. Wc could work in unison with her. but she must give us a full return. Air J. O’Brien (Labour, West la nd'' attacked the new Customs schedule, and quoted the Prime Minister’s promise to reduce the cost of living. He said that the opposite would be the effect if the now duties were put into force. Afore promises had been broken by the Government in the past two years than any Government in the history of the Dominion. Ho suggested that a high tax on American crude oil would help the budget ry osition. He suggested that the unemployment funds should bb expended on more productive wor s than was at present the case, and was also of opinion that money for sucl. work could be raised by conscription. We had conscripted mon for war purposes, could not wealth be conscripted to save some of our people. The House adjourned at 10.25 p.m.