PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 20

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY’S SITTING WAR FINANCE DEBATE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 4. The House resumed at 10.30 a.m., when Mr Boswell, in an urgent question to the Minister of Labour, asked the reason for the suspension of Scheme 4b; also whether resumption of the scheme were intended, and the approximate date thereof. Mr Webb, in reply, said the scheme was suspended only because all efforts to fill farm operational vacancies proved insufficient, and it was necessary to call on those engaged under Scheme 4b. As, however, the farmers felt unable to accept the services of other than a small proportion of the married men thus made available, the partial resumption of Scheme 4b was authorised on the 13th ult., and 2,886 men wore now employed. Tho hon. member would be pleased to learn that already instructions had been issued for full resumption of the scheme, with tho exception of an allocation of men likely to be placed on farm operational work in the near future. The inclusion of the names of men already serving in the Territorial Forces in the recent Territorial ballot was mentioned in an urgent question by Mr Gordon to the Minister of National Service. Mr Gordon asked the Minister to ensure that a similar oversight did not occur in future. Mr Semple, in reply, explained that in a task of such magnitude as the preparation of a register, it was almost unavoidable that mistakes should occur occasionally, but every endeavour was being made to ensure that in future the names of those already serving would not be included in future Territorial ballots.

The question of financial assistance to farmers changing over from creamery to cheese factory supply was raised in an urgent question by Mr Lee on behalf of the Speaker (Mr Barnard) to the Minister-in-Charge of State Advances. He asked if any assistance would be given by way of free grant, and if aid were afforded by loans, upon what terms would these be made.

Mr Armstrong, in reply, said that applications for assistance would be dealt with under the Farmers’ Loan Emergency Regulations. ' Both the amount of the loan and the terms would he determined by the circumstances of each individual case, depending on the nature of the improvements to he effected, life of assets, and the resources of applicants. No free grants would be made in these casos_. Mr Poison: Loans will be limited to £2OO, of course? The Minister made no comment. WAR FINANCE. The interrupted debate on war finance was resumed by Mr Doidge, who said the Government was issuing the loan in this form to appease the militants of its own party. It talked of the all-in policy, but the compulsory loan applied only to a few prosperous taxpayers and companies. Nowhere in the British Empire had there been found necessary a compulsory loan of the type announced in New Zealand, continued Air Doidge, and he claimed not even Germany or Italy had had recourse to a loan so harsh. He contended that Mr Nash was out of touch witli the sentiment of the people and their willingness to give freely was to be found in the magnificent response to the fighter aeroplane funds. The terms of the loan were shattering to the prestige of New Zealand, he said. Mr Doidge also urged that New Zealand should continue to import as much as possible from Britain. Mr Meachen said he could not understand the mentality of those who criticised the Government for restricting petrol. People with private cars could think themselves very lucky to get any measure of petrol at all, and he drew attention to the staggering amount of petrol required for war purposes, particularly in the training of airmen. He thought it was time the Government took action against some of the statements made. Mr Meachen said he understood that the newspapers, had had the right to peruse some of the communications that had passed between the British and New Zealand Governments, and he could not understand why the newspapers, instead of criticisnot helping in their leading article and news columns in keeping the goodwill of the people in the methods that had been adopted. Mr Holland said no one had any quarrel with the amount of money to be raised in the war loan, but they did think that the voluntary system should first have been applied before attempting to use the “ big stick ” of .conscription. He urged the Minister to make a clear statement that this loan was not the thin edge of the wedge for the general introduction of interest-free loans. The Government had put itself off-side with the people for taking their money and not giving them any interest for it. ELECTORAL AMENDMENT. The second reading of the Electoral Amendment Bill was moved by the Prime Minister, who stated that everyone would agree that the men who went overseas should have the right to vote or be nominated for Parliament, and that the salaries of the members of both Houses who went overseas should be safeguarded. Mr Hamilton said tlm Opposition would not offer any criticisin of the Bill, which seemed largely to meet legal requirements in connection with the voting of the troops overseas. ' Mr Fraser intimated that the Government was particularly anxious that the Bill should go through immediately, so that the rights of every soldier for nomination in the Waipawa by-election should be safeguarded. The Bill was put through the remaining stages without discussion, and passed. The House then adjourned at 4.30 p.ni. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, when answers to questions will be discussed during the afternoon, and the debate on the Excess Profits Bill begin on Tuesday evening.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

[Peh United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, October 4. The need for protecting the citrus fruit industry in New Zealand was stressed when the Orchard and Gardens Diseases Bill was put through all its stages in the Legislative Council, and passed to-day. The Leader of the Council (Hon. D. Wilson) outlined the provisions of the measure, which were generally supported. After a short adjournment, the Council received the Electoral Amendment Bill from the House and passed it through all its stages. The Council adjourned until next Wednesday.