DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18405, 12 August 1931, Page 7

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

BUDGET DEBATE RESUMED. OPINIONS OF MEMBERS. STATE LOTTERY PROPOSED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The debate on the Budget was resumed in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr R. McKeen (Labour —Wellington South), referring to the remarks of two Reform members, Messrs A. E. Ansell (Chalmers) and C. E. Macmillan (Tauranga), asked whether Mr Ansell was a rebellious member of the Reform Party, or was there a consensus of opinion on the Reform back-benches that was not in harmony with the opinions expressed by the leaders.

Mr McKeen criticised the Government’s taxing proposals, and said they imposed an unfair burden on those with smaller salaries.

Mr V. H. Ward (United—lnvercargill) expressed regret at the position of Canadian-New Zealand trade. As the New Zealand elections were so close, it would be impossible to send a Minister of the Crown to Canada, but it would be a good idea to send Sir Thomas Wilford, the High Commissioner in London. Mr Ward considered New Zealand should have a State lottery. He could not see why there should not be a National Government with all parties represented in proportion to their numerical Parliamentary strength. Mr H. M. Campbell (Reform — Hawke's Bay) said it would be better to complete at a cost of approximately £1,000,000 the Napier-Gisborne railway line, on which £4,000,000 had already been spent, than to go on with the South Island line. Internal Loan Suggested. Mr M. J. Savage (Labour—Auckland West)' urged that the banking machinery should be used in such a way that life would be put into industry. Money should be raised internally, thereby keeping the country's workers employed. He expressed the opinion that no further time should be lost before an endeavour was made to effect co-'ordination of the transport services. Supporting the view that a chain of wool-scouring or carbonisation plants should be instituted throughout the Dominion, Mr Savage contended there would be vast advantages in marketing wool overseas in first-class order. He remarked that wool exporters were at present paying freight, customs duties, etc., on tons of grease. New Zealand labour could be employed at the plants he had mentioned. Mr G. C. Black (Independent— Motueka) declared that the time was over-ripe for the development of the mining industry of the Dominion. Mr R. W. Hawke (United —Kalapol) said he hoped the Unemployment Board would be able to revive industries to which men now unemployed had become accustomed in the past. It was Important to draft men back to the natural elements. The debate was Interrupted by the rising of the House at 10.30 p.m.

TRADING COUPONS.

BILL INTRODUCED. DISCOUNTS TO REPLACE GIFTS. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Trading Coupons Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General’s Message this afternoon, seeks to substitute casli discounts for gifts under trading coupon schemes after April 30. The measure permits existing gift and cash coupon systems of all kinds to continue until April 30, 1932. After that date, coupons may be Issued by merchants as well as by retailers, but can only be redeemed by money discounts. ' The effect of this provision will be to enable traders, if they so desire, to make concessions in the price of the goods bought by the public.

Coupons In or associated with packets, tins, etc., can still be Issued after April 30, 1932, thereby obviating the difficulty of removing them from the packages, but of course such coupons cannot be redeemed by gifts (other than cash) after April 30. Up to that date redemption will be in accordance with the undertaking given with the coupons now In circulation, but after April 30 redemption cannot be in any other form but cash. Existing legislation, under which Universal certificates and similar coupons were recently found Illegal, is repealed, and a clause is inserted in the Bill making It an offence for any person other than a manufacturer, packer, importer, or seller of goods to issue any trading coupons. The Bill does not make provision against what is known as the “included 'gift"—the enclosure of a spoon in a packet of tea, or the wrapping of a tea towel round a bar of soap. Explaining the measure in the House, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) said that It was on the lines of the Bill Introduced last session and not proceeded with. He Intended to ask that ths Bill should be referred to the industries and Commerce Committee. Mr A. M. Samuel (Reform, Thames) said that all would realise that the Bill had been awaited by a considerable section of the business community, and he did not like the operations of the BUI being postponed until April 30, 1932. Many traders had been hard hit by the coupon system. He hoped that the Bill would come back from the Committee as soon as possible. The Bill was read a first time and referred to the committee. The hearing of evidence commences on Tuesday next..

legislative council.

THE RAILWAYS MAGAZINE. (By Teiegranii.—Press association ) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Legislative Council met at 2.’’o p.m. to-day. , Replying to the Hon. G. M. Thomson. who asked if the Government proposed to stop Hie publication of the Railways Magazine in accordance with the Railway Commission’s report, the Leader, sir Thomas Sldey, said the matter would come under review when Hie commission’s findings were, being considered. The object was to make the magazine as nearly selfsupporting as possible. T'lic Council rose at 2.35 p.m., until August 29.