DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18795, 17 November 1932, Page 7

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

NAVAL DEFENCE VOTE. INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT. LABOUR CRITICISM VOICED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Naval defence matters were discussed In the House of Representatives this evening, when the . Estimates were under consideration. .Mr C. L. Carr (Labour—Timaru) eaid that the estimate for naval defence was £400,800, compared with £394,045 last year. He asked whether this was in accordance with the declaration on the subject of disarmament. He moved that the vote be reduced to an amount equal to that of last year. Ho regretted that public opinion was not yet educated to the extent, that it was possible to wipe out the naval defence vote altogether. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said Mr Carr's motion was utterly unjust and he hoped it would be withdrawn. When it was realised that the British taxpayer had to contribute something approximating 30s per head for naval defence, while the New Zealand taxpayer contributed only seven or eight shillings, it would be seen that this Dominion was doing little enough toward the protection of its trade routes. No nation had done more than Britain to carry out the declaration That it was necessary to reduce expenditure on naval defence. Maintenance of Vessels. •Mr Coates said the increase in the vote this year was purely for the purpose of maintaining the existing vesS6IS. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Defence, declared there had been a progressive reduction in New Zealand’s naval vote since 1929. He explained there was an increase of only £6OOO this year compared with last year’s vote, whereas credits in aid, totalling £51,000, had been deducted from last year's estimate, while only £17,000 had been available this year. The sale of a large quantity of oil to Australia last year had enabled the credits In aid to reach the sum of £51,000. Mr J. Hargest (Government —Invercargill) drew attention to the expenditure of £32,000 on the Philomel. He considered this vessel must he obsolete and he suggested that she might well be scrapped and recruits could receive their training on the Dunedin and Diomede. "Comlo Opera Stuff.” Mr H. T. Armstrong (Labour — Christchurch East) asked why it was not posible for New Zealand to reduce expenditure on naval defence. The Mother Country had substantially reduced her naval expenditure and so had every other Dominion. Furthermore, the National Expenditure Commission had recommended a reduction. He favoured an increased subsidy to the British Navy, in preference to the "comic opera stuff we are engaging In.” ■ Mr Carr said he had not advocated the total elimination of the naval vote under present conditions. lie had regretted that world conditions were not . such as to enable this course to be adopted. He would be prepared to withdraw his motion if he had the Minister’s assurance that ytlie votes were being progresively r reduced. Tiie Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, criticised the expenditure on cruisers when it must he recognised that the only effective means of defence rested with aeroplanes. Mr Carr did not press his motion, which was lost on the voices. Replying to Mr H. M. Rushworth (Country—Bay of Islands), Mr Cobbe said the Navy did not specialise in aerial training, but it had the help of one Fairey machine at Auckland, which was associated with the warships in manoeuvres, and it was intended to purchase a second Fairey machine.

FARMERS' TROUBLES. MEMBERS PERTURBED. NEED FOR URGENT ACTION. CONFERENCE WITH MINISTERS. WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A conference was held at Parliament House this evening, when over 20 members of ihe Reform and United Parties met members of the Ministry 1o suggest alternative schemes for easing the load now borne by the farmer. Three possible courses for relieving the acuteness of the position facing the farming community were put before the Government. The first suggestion was that action should be taken in reducing wages and produc■i tion costs. Secondly, it was proposed that the Government might meet the position by a scheme of subsidising the principal primary industries with a view to applying the principles embodied in, say, (he Paterson butter bounty scheme in Australia, whereby a tax is levied on Ihe product sold on the local market to raise Ihe producers’ return on the sale of Ihe exportable surplus. Thirdly, it was suggested that the Government might give consideration to a scheme to give exporters the benefit of a higher exchange rate. There was a strong body of opinion which preferred a scheme for raising of the rate. Parliament and Small Issues. As ihe export season will soon be (n full swing it was urged that action will be required in the near future if exporters are to counteract the effects of continued low wholesale prices on Hie overseas markets for the rest, of the season. It is believed the opinion was expressed that more attention should he given to the fundamental issue of expor! prices in relation to farming costs and producers' returns. Some members feel that Parliament Is becoming preoccupied with matters Of relatively small importance, and that, there is a danger of really vital issues being overlooked. Meanwhile, fears arc already beginning to he exi pressed that. Parliament may have to * meet again early next year to discuss subjects which should rightly be grappled with before Hits session ends. The opinion is held by some mem(Continued in next column.)

hers that Parliament as a whole does not even yet appreciate the serious plight of the primary producers and tlie urgent need that still exists for giving the man on the land every possible measure of assistance. Contra! Reserve Bank. Reference was made to the Central Reserve Rank Bill, which it is proposed to introduce this session. The opinion is held by certain Government members that the operation of this bank would play a useful part in strengthening the, Dominion’s credit system generally and that it would lie- able to resist more successfully a recurrence of the circumstances existing to-day. The view is also held Itiat. such a bank would serve to stabilise Hie exchange rale if any effect were given to the suggestion to bring about an increase, while it is asserted that it would serve a useful purpose in bringing about, a closer monetary union between Hie various parts of Hit; Empire, and New Zealand and London ■ill particular. Inlor\iewed later, (he Prime Minister, Ihe Rt. lion. li. \Y. Forbes, said Hie deputation of members had been received to discuss the troubles of farmers. He said the. difficulties ol those on the land were placed before the Cabinet and that after a general discussion several remedies were suggested and considered.