PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1931, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

. THE HOUSE. THE BUDGET DEBATE. (By Telegraph — Per Frets Association ) WELLINGTON, August 7. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr Holland resuming the Budget debate, announced the intention of the Labour Party to divide the House on all the main items in the Government’s taxation proposals. Government, despite its election pledges, seemed determined to pile the heaviest burdens on the man with the smallest income. First of all it cut wages by what amounted from ten to 60 ancl seventy per cent. Having done that it imposed a flat rate unemployment levy of threepence in the pound on all incomes, making the man with a small income pay the. same rate as men whose incomes ran into thousands. Then it imposed ..indirect taxes on tea, sugar and other articles of common use, forcing up the cost of living. Government then proceeded to levy on moderate incomes taxation increases out of all proportion to the increased charge made on, larger incomes on a wage worker, small farmer, business matt and public servant,” said Mr Holland. “The Prime Minister has got them all with financial headlocks, nl'mlodliS) crucifixes, and body bclssois,and now as a final spectacular display he is endeavouring 'to work hack the breaking Boston crab. The upshot is that ho will probably find himself thrown out of the ring at the end of this' year, unable to continue.” „Mr Downie Stewart, declared while New Zealand public finances were heavily strained, they were still bound, and with care and economy the position could still he coped with. He considered the problems of the day could not be adequately dealt with by a minority Government and he still considered all sections of the House should he invited to see whether they could evolve a common policy to meet the danger. He wished to make it clear in this connection, that he was speaking entirely for himself, and not for the Party. In a brief reference to the tea tax, Mr Stewart said tea importers had told him that instead of bringing in ninety-two thousand a year as estimated it would bring iri one hundred and forty thousand. As tax and surtax would amount to about Sfd they would have to pass them on. but if the Minister of Finance would reduce the tax to twopence they would endeavour to bear it, and the Government would still realise ever one hundred thousand. The debate was interrupted hv the rising of the House at 10.30 p.m.

BUDGET DEBATE. WELLINGTON, August 7. In the House of Representatives this morning the Budget debate was continued and the House adjourned at 1 p.m.