LABOUR MEMBER S SUGGESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1929, Page 3

LABOUR MEMBER S SUGGESTION

TO' GET REVENUE. , , •• . . i AMERICAN' Tars and big LAND-OWNERS. WELLINGTON, August 8. Accepting the Finance Minister’s declaration that he must have more revenue and admitting that if members objected to Sir Joseph Ward’s methods they should submit something better, Mr Armstrong; from the Labour bencheSf took : up the 'challenge to-night and made his proposals. Reform inemrSmahfeedp d’e'Clhted that they must not go to the large land-owneis, nofyhidst they touch thb'Customs. He would like Reform members to say where they would go for this revenue. - The .Labour Party objected to obtaining revenue from' Customs, which, in s their opinion, should be used only • for purposes in the interests of ' v New Zealand industries. They Would tax- wealth through the income tajigmuch higher than the Government proposed.' If Reformers declared it was' wrong to go to the big land-owners and’to- the Customs niore revenue, where would' they go ? Mr Hamilton (Wallace) : No need. Mr Semple (Wellington East) : Simply drift. ' Mr Armstrong went on 1 to suggest that the increase in : primage duty would mean much more than Sir Joseph Ward estimated, because' it would be parsed on, with additions, to the' consuiiier'. Why not put extra’ duties on American motors, instead Of putting it on tea and sugar? When New Zealand' sent butter to America, they cltarged 6d! per pound duty, .and if we sent our , timber, they would send if back. Our mills were idle, and workers were unemployed, while we were importing millions of feeL of American timber. “If we sent a shipload of our unemployed to the United States they would send them back,” said Mr Armstrong. “ I hope the Prime Minis-

ter will reconsider his primage duty increase', remove it altogether, and get 'Hfris £200,000' from the large landowner, who can carry considerably more than he has asked him to carry.”