WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1931, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE; BUDGET

FINANCIAL DEBATE OPENS,

(Special Correspondent).-

•WELLINGTON, August 6

The financial debate opened ill the House of 'Representatives last iught wifh full benches ; crowded galleries; but the proceedings were scarcely so ..interesting as- hat} been generally' expected. The Leader of the Opposition- first speaker, as the traditions of the Tlpuse prescribe, confined, himself for, the most part to twice told tales and the Minister of Lands, who replied on behalf of the Government,. ventured' little further afield. This morning’s paper, which, it would spem,' is better disposed towards fusion to-day than it was a month or two ago, supplies a- very excellent' report o,f the proceedings with the head-ljpe ■“Mr Coates offers Co-operationbut the offer, a? it was first uttered, ip the House seemed leg* cordial than did ope ov two suggestions that followed.; “The ■Reform Party ifould help rather -. than hinder, 1 ' the Government was'told, but it also would expect to have its own way. i ' „ \ • • WHAT NEXT. It is due to the Leader of the pppoiition, however, to say that, towards the conclusion’ of his speech, when heckled by the members of the Labour Party, and others, he made nllusions to fusion which suggested that hja ohssasipp to; party had not "lessened hiji jjsyotipn to couitfry. ; " T be ,Berii»up of the country," he said ip teply t° interjection froip , the Labcjur h®pcho s “calls for unity land co-«ptratiou';fr<)m every member of the House, The position of the- country during the next year .or' two is going to be exceptionn.lly severe, and it is.,the business pf parliament to see'^hat'preparation is made for thjs- demand upon ourresources.” These, of course,' are quite the right apd proper sentiments to 'express. upop, such an occasion ? . apd jf Hr Coates respopds to the calls, of - >and 'cp-operatipxi” it still mjy. be possible for the two older ; parties to be working together. ' -

SOFT WORDS. • * The Hon. E. : A.' : Ransom, the. • - of Lands, * following the traditions;: of his-'status i|v the Ministry, followed the ; ‘ -: . [Leader of the Opposition with the ;.gpft words ••• appropriated to the ■ occasion. .i.Tfe ■ expressed appreciation ipf the manner -jn ' ■ which Mi" Coates had approached the proposals virt the Budget and in which .•he; had disced 1 them. It was very .‘gratifying. to' know from.Mr. ‘Coates him- ‘ ’' 'helf-that he'hnd tlie party he represented : realized thh "of-: the situation,. •' -Whicii'had : hefaiilen the Dominion as it ■' had' befallenj 1 >jp)pacticaily,'- in greater or 'smaller >part of the civil- ">; Reader, of the •Opposi- > ' HSd v,Kee'nied to~ that, .the reserves of wHibh 1 the (ftVsrjun'Sp had, taken advantage Ip its', presept difficulties, ;had. beexi qveat-d by the -Reform Government f ■''' hut as : a. matter of .fact they - had hem ■V accumulated during administration , 7 of Sir Joseph Ward in more, progressive ’ --times. 1 "..‘ ■■■■< , t CRITICISM. . f< Referring to various criticisms • that ~T Sad been levelled against the tnent in regard to further economies that might be effected, Mr •Ransom said he would be very glad to have any in- /; formation that was • available on , this ,/subiect. It’ had been . suggested that , /further savings could; be effected by the ', reduction of departmental, expenditure—- - by dispensing fith'-mpre' civil -servants. This, he admitted, was true, but staffs could not be further * reduced without inflicting grave hardships. The Government had done all it could, do in this respect short of positive cruelty. Then there was the suggestion that a million or so might be saved bv reducing the v- ; education vote.. Something might be 5' done 1 in', this . .direction, *•- and vqualifi 0 d --- authorities Were examining the position, but the interests of the scholars as well , , »s the needs of the Treasury had to be considered. “Meanwhile,” the Minister concluded, “we all are doing our best.