ANNUAL VOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20915, 21 September 1939, Page 9

ANNUAL VOTES

APPROPRIATION BILL VARIETY OF SUBJECTS EFFECT OF PRICE FIXATION (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Many subjects were discussed by the House of Representatives today during the second reading debate on the Appropriation Bill, which was subsequently put through its remaining stages and passed. The Bill represents various classes of estimates x for the current financial year, annual appropriations and unauthorised expenditure in legislative form, the amount involved totalling £72,408,000. Reference was made by Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford), to the influence of price fixation for farmers’ produce on the agricultural economy of the Dominion. He said he hoped the Government would realise that the country’s economy demanded at least that reasonable prices should be paid for export production. An immediate reply was made to Mr Poison by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who said there would he no unfair discrimination between one section of the community and another. The Government would not permit profiteering or exploitation. Volunteer Force The desirability of including some returned men of all ranks in the special field force now being recruited was suggested by Mr J. Hargest (Opposition—Awarua). The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said he was quite prepared to examine the proposal and see whether it were not possible to be more liberal so far as the present age limits were concerned.

Other Bills passed included the Hutt Road Bill, the New Zealand Library Association Bill and the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of Property Amendment Bill.

The House adjourned at 10.27 p.m. until tomorrow.