POLITICAL NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1929, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

A BREAKING-UP TAX.

WELLINGTON, Aug. 13

“If the contention of large land-own-ers is correct that the Government’s 'super-tax means that some owners cannot carry on, then,” remarked Mr Sullivan, in the House to-day “the Government purpose is being effected, for it plans a super-tax on land over £12,500 unimproved value as a means of facilitating subdivision.” This objjction to the new tax did not appear very powerful to the speaker, though he was quite prepared to admit that there might be cases of hardship for special consideration, where large estates could not be given proper access for' subdivisional purposes. The new policy was in strong contrast with that of the former Government, which had nothing more seriously discrediting it than the continued statements of its Ministers of Lands that New Zealand was at the end of land settlement possibilities. No New Zealander with faith in jhis country believed that, and he hoped the Government would stick to its policy in regard to super land tax. Mr Sullivan, however, advised the a nee Minister to reconsider the primage tax increase and introduce some alternative to assist in the development of local industries and relieve unemployment.

POLICE PAY. Declaring that he was not an advocate of departmental extravagance, hut that public servants should not be expected to work for nothing, Mr Sullivan (Avon) quoted details of policemen’s pay to show that these servants of the public are not being fairly treated. The Christchurch City Council, he explained, paid its general labourers 16s a day, but a policeman with under three years’ service obtained only 15s a day, and it took six to nine ye.ars to reach the general labourer’s wage of 16s, To pay such wages, declared Mr Sullivan, was a very miserable policy indeed, especially as the police had to undergo a special course of training and possess some skill.

MOUNTING MINING COSTS. Owing to the fact that the number of working days has considerably lessened, the output from both the Liverpool and James State-owned coal mines was reduced last year. The average number of days lost at Liverpool colliery (excluding (back Saturdays) was 62. Taking the latter figure with ihe daily output of 730 tons, a total lqss of 45,268 in output is represented. '1 here was a consequential loss in miners’ earnings. The annual report states that there had been an effort on ihe part of the management to keep down the cost of production, but in consequence of frequent interruptions .o work and the reduced output, costs Jiad been higher than would have been the case with regular and greater service. The James colliery worked 215 days, being ten less than in the previous year. At No. 1 Liverpool, 180 days were worked, and at No. 2 177 clays. Delays to shipping and want or trade accounted for the loss of 53 days, and union holidays for the loss of 20 days in each case. The operaof the State coal mines disclose a profit of £9268 for the year ended A rareh 31. A PROBLEM. Much concern was expressed by Mr Rushworth (Bay of Islands) in the I onse to-night when he touched on tlie problem of unemployment, regarded not from the standpoint of dealing with those at present, out of work, hut rather that of providing avenues < f employment for boys and girls leaving school. What to do for our boys and girls was, he declared, the big problem. No one in the House knew l etter than he what a really unemployable person was like.. He had studied the question in London and had seen genuine unemployables who reminded one of creatures out of Dante’s inferno. They were a travesty on human beings. Mr Semple: Made by the State. Mr Rushworth said a generation of unemployed meant the production of rnemployables. When a lad leaving s'-hool had been two or three years without work he became unemployable, and the prospect was not encouraging. Hone sprang "eternal in the human breast, however, and he was still hoping. He did want to see this problem tackled in a serious way. He was afraid the Government’s oup was filling up, and unless it tackled the main

problem in \a serious and determined manner it would have a very short life. PRIMAGE WHIPS AND REFORM Though admitting bis dislike of the primage duty Mr Fletcher (Grey Lynn) declared that- the Budget must lie balanced, so it bad to be faced. He hoped to see a big surplus at the end of this year, for that would give a fine chance to make a definite start with an unemployment insurance fund. Mr Samuel (Thames): Do you favour the extra primage duty? Mr Fletcher. I don’t like it any more than any other individual, but I prefer the whips of primage to the scorpions of Reform administration. (Laughter and applause).