FINANCE BILL

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19946, 24 July 1936, Page 8

FINANCE BILL

I TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. l —- i EVOLUTION OF SOGIETY. I HIGHER “'AGES AND COSTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) \VELLING’I‘ON, Friday. “hen the House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. to—day. the second ireading debate on the Finance Bill was resumed. [ Mr A. u. A, Sexton (independent—Franklin) referred to the el‘t'e‘cts of | the depression on people‘s morale. lie I questioned the advisability of the payment or expenses to mrmhers travel—ling on a Minister’s behalf. Mr A. i“. .\loncur ttjovernment——Hotorua‘) charged .\tr Forbes with in—ability to loot; into the future and see any different state of society than one existing at present, and also with refusing to recognise the advance of the machine age. He said the present state of civilisation had been reached as the result of the Governments which had tried to lift the unfortunate, rather than by those Who had tried to pull down the fortunate. The country was in the' process of evolution and the Opposition must realise that. The Overseas Debt..\ir w. J. Polson (OppositionStratford) said he Wished tU ljemP-“t Government members when talking ot overseas debt to remember that the holders of those loans were 0111' OW}! kith and kin and the spread of their interest showed about £2OO an individual, which was evidence that smut] people had contributed to the loans and they were entitled to interest’on their money. He did not think .\ew Zeaiand could complain of the treat—ment accorded her by British people iand the British Government. The British Government had El'illltEG I‘9“ ‘mission of interest on war loan. The House was asked to accept a pig in a poke and was asked to subscribe to the expenditure of a large sum of .money without knowing where the ‘money was coming from. He asked the Government to tell the House fairly and frankly where the money was ‘coming from to provide its funds. He said the Government‘s promises Could be divided into three classes—broken promises, such as promises to remove the exchange and sales tax; dodged or distorted promises. such as the marketing scheme; and delayed promises, such as the present Bill. “Patching Its Acts." Mr Poison said the attempt to reinstate 1931 standards would mean parv alysis in some industries and increases in costs. He referred to the increases in costs to the farming community and said the Government. despite assurances, had very little sympathy with the farming community. Referring to the clause enabling the Government by Urder-in—Council to add industries to a special schedule of the Factories Act relating to gas—works, etr., Mr l’olson suggested that already the Government was llnding it necessary to put a patch on the Acts it had passed in the tlrst portion of the session because of the injustice of it. Mr Poison referred to the attitude of one of the conciliation commis—sioners just this week when he alleged an unwarranted delay on the part of employers. He, said it showed the Government's attitude. Mr Poison said the policy was clearly intended to hear unduly upon industry and had no re—lation to costs whatever. It would have a iboomerang effect on labour. tjust as it had had on labour in Aus—tralia, Past. Government‘s Faults. .\lr lJi \\'. Coleman tGovet‘nment— Gisborne), said the Leader of the Opposition and .\ir Bodkin had said the cuts should be restored from April 1 but he t.\lr Lioleman) claimed that it‘ the old Government had been returned to power there would time been no rc~ storation of cuts whatever. The previous Government certainly had its problems but instead of trying to remedy those problems it aggravated them and failed to face up to the position. New Zealand was the last coun—try to feel the effects of the depression and the only way it could see of getting out 01‘ dimculties was by cut—ting wages and salaries and it smashed awards. “Retreat. From Moscow." Mr Coleman said the Government was now going.r to restore cuts and give hack what had been taken awm. Pensions would be increased and Upposiiion speakers \\L‘i't' annoycd beCaUse the Government was giving pf. feet to its promises and because tho Upllosition could not twit the Liovern—nient with not carrying out its prom—ises. it amused him that most Uppo—sttion speakers claimed to be a you]nant ot' the old Liberal Party, a party that. had placed UK] the Stalulu BUUk legislation which the opposition had liulprd to wrm'k‘. Mr Li. .\. Wilkinson {independent— I‘JI‘E‘IHUI”) said the present measure “as only one oi” three, .\lroady there had MFG” "V“ restoration” and had the past l-ou'rnnlcnt been returned the balance 10th tifncuts \‘”.l‘l‘l.““"f‘l been restored. t L the hlll showed the hovel-11.. ment was in a stair ot' panic as the last claust- rcpmlcd some ot’ the log—ibitliiUll passed onl) :1 month ago, locu—iSifliiUH “'us like the Retreat from nul—cow and tho Liovernmcnl was i‘tilltliiig away. The luncheon adjournment was then taken.