LABOUR'S OPINION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 347, 7 October 1932, Page 5

LABOUR'S OPINION

("Post" Special Commissioner.)

HOUSE DEFENDED MR. SAVAGE, M.P., TALKS OF "TRADUCERS" OF PARLIAMENT FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Wellington, Thursday A special analysis of the Dominion's trade and financial position was made in the House of Representatives to-night hy Mr. M. J. Savage, Labour (Auckland V/est), who led the Opposition team in the Budget debate. He said that it was difficult to see how an international fall in price levels could "be prevented when nations were competing with each other in a vain attempt to inerease trade by reducing the wages of their customers. High' prices could not be established on low wages and the control of credit and currency shonld be in the hands of the people. During the war the British Government had taken control of currency and the same plan as adopted then could be carried out to-day. He ridiculed the efforts of delegates representing various parts of the Empire meeting at Ottawa after wage slashing campaigns, trying to devise means of inereasing trade with each other. Purchasing Power Trade, both internal and external, depended on the power to buy. Britain's power to pay good prices for the Dominion's products was decided by her customers' ability to pay economic prices for Br.itish goods. If the standard of living was low in both countries, it would be serious for both. As far as New Zealand is concerned her- sources of revenue were being rapidly destroyed. It was to be hoped in future that the Government would rely on the , local market for essential capital requirements and would get out of the orthodox financial rut by instituting more self government in finance. Mr. Savage said that the huge shortage in superarmuation funds indicated that money which should have heen paid into funds hy the State, had heen used to build up surpluses shown in successive financial statements. He declared that sustained press and chamber of commerce campaigns, backed by the commission's report, to destroy the prestige and growth of the Parliamentary system would be obvious to everyone. All members, irrespeetive of party and despite. the intense opposition of the large section who for many years had opposed the policy which had landed the country into its present position, were openly accused of neglect, incompetence and even personal advantage at the expense. of economic administration of puhlic affairs. Aided and Abetted "If governments have sinned against the true principle of good government, and I think they have, they were certainly aided and abetted hy their present traducers," said Mr. Savage. "The present campaign against Parliament and its work may reach further than now appears on the surface. The institution is a bigger thing than those who for the time being may occupy seats in this chamber. It is accessible to every citizen in the land and provides a means whereby they may ventilate their griev.ances. Parliament Weakened "It is well that they should be alert as the legislative and administrative acts of the present and past governments have weakened its power and responsibilities and have delegated those powers and responsibilities to irresponsible boards and commissions, some members of which have the impertinence to place themselves on pedestals while oilifying and misrepresenting the elected representatives of the people." "For many years members of this side of the House have gone to the limit of their powers in opposition to what they considered to be ill-ad-vised legislative and administrative acts. With few exceptions they were opposed by the very people who "today are complaining of what is really their own handiwork."