DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18407, 14 August 1931, Page 7

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

THE BUDGET DEBATE. ADVICE TO WHEAT GROWERS. MAORI MEMBER S STRICTURES. <By Telegraph.— Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Financial Debate was resumed In the House of Representatives today. Mr T. Makitanara (United—South\ffairs, a great deal was being done on native lands. He referred to tobacco and wheat-growing by Maoris, claiming that in the North Island, Maoris had beaten Canterbury at wheat-growing and had grown 40 bushels to the acre. “If the Maoris can do that, why do not the pakehas do it. Instead of howling about the duties, they should follow the example of the Maoris anl put their shoulders to the wheal.” “The proposed duty on sugar will press heavily upon the Maori people, whose slender purses will make it dlfllcult for them,” declared Mr Makitanara, “but I feel sure that on this occasion, as upon many occasions in the past, they will grin and bear it. This, I believe, would be a good lesson to their pakeha friends.” Mr J. Linklater (Reform-Mana-watu' said he was in favour of the education vote being cut down in the case of those within easy reach r.f schools, but he hoped every facility Mfould be given to rural children. Mr J. W. Munro (Labour —Dunedin North) said that side by side with the wage cuts there had been increasing unemployment because the community’s purchasing power had been reduced. Return to Prosperity. The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, said he did not like the Budget proposals and he considered the country was overtaxed already, but tiie country had got into a vicious circle and the position had to be met. Continuing. Mr Stallworthy said one thing in the Budget he did like was the decision to balance the country’s accounts. He wished to express his appreciation of the way the Opposition had decided to assist the Government instead of attempting to make political capital out of the position. He believed New Zealand would recover prosperity much more quickly than either Britain or Australia. Ad that was needed was to put its house in order.

Reverting to the question of balancing the Budget, he said while Labour endorsed the principle, Labour members kept insisting on measures that would make it impossible to balance the Budget. Labour was following a foolish road and was pledging Itself to a policy impossible of fulfilment. It was essential that the Government must meet its liabilities in an honest way and that could not be done ; if it pursued the policy of high wages that had been tried in America and had failed. A National Government. Mr J. S. Fletcher (Independent— Grey Lynn, said he was in favour of a National Government. He wished to make it plain that he was referring to a National Government rather than to a national party, and he was also In v favour of an elective Executive. He ! i said he was conndent Hie Government • could effect considerable economy in the Public Works Department, and for that reason he intended to vote against all taxation proposals that would Involve an increase in the cost of living. Mr Taitc Tc Tonio (Reform —Western Maori . mentioned he had urget! Maoris in his electorate not to seek . work under the Unemployment Board’s 1 there ; who had no land, whereas every Maori had at least some land, and he had advised them , to cultivate what little land they had. I Mr W. Lee Martin (Labour —Bag- j lan said 50.000 men were unemploy- i ed and as the average earnings of | those men would be £3 a week, the ' loss to the country was great, be ; cause £50.000 a week was being spent . to give them sustenance. They should i be put to productive work, and he a l- I v orated land development. Mr Martin I suggested the coal industry should be i given more sympathetic treatment. The debate was adjourned and the * House rose at 10.20 p m. PETROL PRICES. EXPLOITATION ALLEGED. £2,000,000 A YEAR TO U.S.A. (Bi’ Telegraph.— Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. 1 Reference to the price of petrol was made in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr J. S. Fletcher (Independent—Grey Lynn'. Mr Fletcher said petrol was being sold in London at is 2id a gallon anl Included in this price was a tax of fourpence, while in New Zealand, it was bring sold at 2s. including a tax of sixpence. Transportation and distribution costs in connection with the marketing of petrol in England would not br any less than the similar costs in New Zealand, and as it could be assumed it was not being sold without a profit in England, it must follow tint there was a heavy exploitation charge In New Zealand. Mr F. Langstone (Labour—Wai- * marino): They land it here for under sixpence a gallon. Mr Fletcher submitted there were over £2.000,000 annually going out of this country into tlie pockets of American oil trusts. Petrol was being sold In California at seven cents a gallon and that included a three cents road tax. He admitted there was a petrol war In California, hut there was no excuse for the very high price in New Zealand.