DEBATE ON FINANCE BILL RESUMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 190, 14 August 1941, Page 6

DEBATE ON FINANCE BILL RESUMES

CREATION OF DEBT MR. LEE CRITICAL OF THE MONETARY SYSTEM (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., Aug. 13. The second reading debate on the Finance Bill was resumed when the House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opp., Waitomo), speaking of a clause in the measure, under which the Crown assumes liability for the payment of rates on certain properties, said the position was becoming more serious every day for local bodies. The Government was developing a total of 160,000 acres under the small farms scheme, and 500,000 acres under the native development scheme, and the Government’s non-payment of rates had proved a grave matter to local authorities. The Government, he contended, should undertake the same liabilities with regard to rates as private individuals, and local bodies should be treated fairly. He instanced one base where the Government had paid only £2OO in rates on property that was assessed for £12,000. The whole thing should be put on a proper basis, he said, and equity exfended to settlers of the community.

Mr. Broadfoot also criticised the Government’s policy in connection with the supply of military clothing and equipment to India, stating that New Zealand, as well as Australia, should have a share in the orders which were being placed in the I antipodes. Question of Married Men. Speaking of the responsibilities of married men to be called up for service, in comparison with those of single men medicaly unlit for service, he said there was no equality of serI vice between these two classes o' individuals. A. single, unfit man left in New Zealand should have to bearsome of the burden and make a sacrifice equal in some way. Tins was a problem calling for a solution by the Government. The Minister of Internal Affairs. Hon, E. Parry, expressed the hope that some day, when peace was reestablished between the nations, we would see social security established throughout, the world on an international basis, or at least throughout the British Commonwealth, and that there would be reciprocal treatment of pensioners between the nations. Mr. J. A. Lee (Democratic LabGrey Lynn) said he had no doubt that the social security legislation on the New Zealand Statute Book was the most comprehensive of any country in the world.

Speaking of the war debt, he said that if we put the world in pawn to debt, and set about calling up debts, as was done after the last war, then the people would turn again to a miracle man and once again the Hitlers would march. The war could not be won only on the basis of beating Hitler.