FINANCE BILL

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 241, 18 October 1935, Page 8

FINANCE BILL

— SALARY INCREASES ETC. FAVOURABLE RECEPTION ( - Apipireeiation of the proposals contained in the Finance Bill introduced the previous evening was expressed by practically all members who took part ie in tho second reading debate on the a, measure in the House of Representa- -- tives yesterday. This legislation provides for increases in public servants’ 0 salaries and pensions, a contribution 0 of an amount not exceeding £200.000 0 to tho State superannuation funds, - and a subsidy of 124 pm cent on rural 6 rateA. j Even Labour members made no • 6 secret of their satisfaction with the < y bill, but many qualified their approval >, by referring to itlhe measure as evidence of an act of belated repentance on the part of the Government and an 'effort to undo something that should , never have been done. Several urban representatives complained that the benefit of the subsidy was not to be extended to town and city ratepayers, hut beyond that there was little ■ in the way of criticism. In moving the second reading of the Bill, the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. . J. G. Coaitjes, said that at the time the . Budget was delivered the finances did not allow of much elasticity, but since then there had been' an Improvement and it was due to this fact that increases larger than those originally contemplated had he'en possible. The Minister was followed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J. Savage, who drew attention/ to the fact that nothing had been done for the workers outside the Public Service. The debate was cortfHnued throughout the evening by both Labour and Government members., Tt had been anticipated that the Bill would hie passed through all stages before the usual rising hour at midnight. As the evening advanced, however. n.t became evident that this would not bo possible, and, although no formal urgency motion had been asked for, members consented tio meet the wishes of Mr Coates and srt until the Bill was passed. He explained that this was niecessary if the back pay to Itlhe public servants was to he distributed this month. Tho second reading debate concluded early this morning following a reply hv Mr Coates to points raised during the discussion. The House tfien' went into committee to consider the Bill clause - hr clause.