THE BUDGET

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1931, Page 5

THE BUDGET

FIRST WEEK’S TALK

A SUMMARY.

The first stage in the discussion ot the Budget in the House of Representatives last week, save for the contribution of the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, was not a particularly impressive demonstration. The lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, the Leader of the Opposition, who, it is understood, was not originally billed lor so early an appearance in the debate, led off with an assurance that the policy of his party, for the time being, at any rate, would be to help rather than to hinder the Government ip over-coming the difficulties besetting the country. On the whole he observed the spirit of his party’s undertaking very creditably. There were two or three little lapses, however/ which illustrated the persistence of habit. Since 1928, Mr Coates told the House, the railway construction vote had increased from £900,000 to £1,570,030, despite the fact that several lines had been stopped. Borrowing I li ad increased very materially since tile present Government had been in office, and as a result the national debt had increased.. The expenditure on roads, excluding main highways, had increased from £705j000 in 1928 to £1,475,000 in 1931. “What,” he asked, “is the reason for the increased borrowing?” The Prime Minister: ment.”

“That is exactly the position,” retorted Mr Coates, with such complacence as a shy man might assume. If it were due to anything else the Government would deserve castigation. As it is the position is serious.” The Hon. E. A. Ransom, the Minister of Lands, following the Leader o; the Opposition was content for the most part to leave that gentleman’s review of the situation where it stood.

Mr H. E. Holland, the Leader of the Labour Party, who held the floor of the House, by the grace of members, for rather more than, an hour and a half on Thursday, let it he known that for the time being his mission in politics was to demolish a United Party which had dared to dispense with his assistance. “The Leader of the Labour Party,” said the Hon. W. A. Veitch the Minister of Railways, “has not given his collegause one constructive thought. He did not make one suggestion worthy of consideration, nor did he contribute anything likely to help this country out of the difficulties.”

Following the two members just mentioned, the infective talker and the sturdy Scotch thinker, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, the Minister of Finance in the last Reform Cabinet, with knowledge and experience possessed bv feu- of his contemporaries, setting party aside, gave his warm approval to the efforts bv- the- PrimeMinister to balance the Budget. Mr Holland, lie said very opportunely, had blamed the Lender of the Opposition for tho mildness of his attack upon the Budget; but what Mr Holland had overlooked was that in tho present exceptional times any Minister of Finance was entitled to receive not merely justice, but also leniency and assistance from the House. - Probably this very tactful rebuke was wholly lost upon the Leader of the Labour Party, but it cannot have missed the understanding of less obsessed members of the House. Mr Stewart did not dwell on the subject. With the Leader of the Opposition, lie went on to say with admirable tact, he believed the Prime Minister Avas right in endeavouring to balance Lis Budget, if he could do so by effecting economies and by imposing extra taxation not beyond the capacity of the community. It \A-as hlaa ays a very difficult matter to decide when the taxable capacity of a country had been reached, hut it did appear to him that it Avas important in this particular year to balance the Budget if it Avere at all possible.

"With this benediction, the discussion of the Budget, for all that really mattered, practically ended for the week.