“BLESSING IN DISGUISE.’

Otaki Mail, 30 January 1922, Page 4

“BLESSING IN DISGUISE.’

PREMIER'S VIBW OF RETRENCHMENT. WILL REDUCE COST OF LIVING. Wellington January 27. After the telegraph office closed the debate on the third reading of the Retrenchment Bill was conitnued by Mr Fraser, who described the measure as a public disaster. ' Mr Massey then replied, contending , that it was impossible tor the Govern- , meat to make public the Economies j Committee’s reports, which .were largely confidential. He defended the 1 rebates made to land owners, for which he took the whole responsibil- 1 ity, because the country could not go on bearing the heavy burdens of taxa- , tion which it at present was bearing, j He was satisfied if the Labour Party j got control of this country it would i not he for long. He had no partlcu- ; lar fault to find with the opposition ; put up by the Labour Party to the , Bill, but he was satisfied if they got , .control of the country it would not be long before they reduced it to the pre- ; ' sent state of Russia. He could not congratulate the Leader of the Opposition upon his Taeti&s which lea to the Government being strongly supported in the last division which greatly strengthened the position of the Government. He was satisfied the end of retrenchment had not come yet. Ihey must go on for the next twelve months, but be was convinced Hie effect of the Bill would bs to reduce the cost of living. If it induced a spirit of economy amongst the peo- & pie it would do great good. The cost |of living was steadily coming down, f and in twelve months he was convinced if. would have fallen far below 3 per day. which he proposed to take front the bonuses. The Bill represented an unpleasant duty, but he was satisfied that when the people came to realise the position they wouJu recognise it not as an evil bHt as a blessing in tjuguise. On the motion that the Bill be read a Third lime, a division was Taken, the motion being carried by 40 to 19 The House rose at 2.40 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. j muatmmmvneMmmqsa