PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1921, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

SPECIAL TO GUARDIAN. FINANCIAL DEBATE. WELLINGTON, Nov. 11 The debate on the Financial Statement was resumed in the House early this afternoon. Government in accordance with the usual practise, is withholding all other business until the adverse motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition has been disposed of. The first speaker to-day was Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) who ranks as the financial critic of the Labour Party. He condemned the Government and its finance energetically for an hour, without opening much new ground. Then Mr Statham (Dunedin Central) Leader of the New Party, got the floor. He devoted half an hour to a discussion of relations between Government and the Bank of New Zealand, with the object of showing that the Government had been outmanoeuvred in the recent rearrangement of capital. He asked why the Government had permitted the Hank to carry forward over £200,000 of undivided profits when the State was entitled to one-third of the amount. Mr Massey retorted that the Government did not lose any of its rights hy allowing the Bank to maintain a strong finance. It retained its third share in the undivided profits, . which in the meantime were earning interest.

Mr Statham said the Estimates showed that members were being asked t„ vote about £1,800,000 more than last year for State Departments. Why was that necessary if the Government was in earnest about retrenchment? The Prime Minister—The answer is perfect l v simple. Unless Parliament nerves to the legislation that I propose to bring down before this session ends, then tills estimate, or nearly the whole of it will Ik- required, hut if I can get legislation through then the retrenchment that 1 propose will he given effect t„, mid the whole of the money shown on the estimates will not be required. A member—Then surely the proper course would he to bring down the legislation first. Mr McCalluiii ' Wairau)—How are you going to make your savings before March illst next? Mr Massey—l have five months, or nearly five months. The whole scheme has been prepared and if Parliament agrees it will he put into operation. .Mr Statham said that if the intentions of the Government had keen stated plainly in the Budget, members would have been able to understand tl,o position. They were being asked in the estimates placed before them to vote £1,800,000 more than last year for Departmental expenditure. Mr Massey—You will get the reduction alright. UNKNOWN WARRIOR. \ suggestion that an Unknown N.Z. Warrior should he brought from the battlefields preferably of Gallipoli, for internment in the Dominion, was made in the House by Mr Jennings ittaito„io). Other countries had lionouret their dead in this way, said Mr Jennings. and it seemed fitting that a • '■ should take similar steps. The Prime Minister saul that would take a early opportunity of consulting Cabinet regarding the suggestion. CH \NGINiT ELECTORATES. WELLINGTON, November 11. ilr Massey told the House that he hid been informed unofficially, hut quite correctly, that the labour of tho Boundary Conniuissitm had finished. The v had taken away one electorate from the south and given one to the north. The electorate to be wiped out was Bri.ee, and a new one lias been established in part of V\ aikato The present Waikato electorate would become Hamilton and a new one would he established with Te Awamutu as its i mitral area. He was also informed that no licensed houses were interfered with. In answer to a chorus of questions. t |„. Prime Minister reminded members that their constituent* would have two months within which to appeal. Hu*, could appeal at any time between the present and January 10th. Maps are with the Printing Office now. THE debate. The debate of the Financial Statement was continued during the evening. Several more speakers have indicate! their intention of taking the lion.’ on Tuesday, hut it is expected phut a division on Mr IV liford s amendment will be reached that day. 1 n