THE BUDGET.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3, 1 September 1915, Page 3

THE BUDGET.

MR WILFORD THE DEBATE. Per Press Association. Wellington, August 31. To-night, .Mr 'I 1 . M. Wilford opened the debate on the Financial Statement. He said it was one of the most momentous Budgets ever presented to tiie Hoirse .and he thought the Government would welcome any constructive criticism that might b e offered. Referring to National Registration, he said it was right that the country should know its human resources, and also its industrial resources J the register seemed to be. practically a national -'Who's Who." It was the adoption of tins system that had made Germany the powerful foe she now was. He wished the registration to extend to women. .Many women are now wanting to have their services utilised in various departments, and desired the Government to include them in the national "stock-taking." Criticising the proposals outlined in the Budget. Mr Wilford argued that all tariff proposals between various parts of the Empire should lie abolished, at any rate, for the period of war. producers must be encouraged in all directions, but. care must be taken that large profits were not made by individuals, lie favored heavier taxation of banks, trading concerns, and shipping companies. Merchant firms who bad made profits out of tile war should pay increased taxation, also those who'had participated in war contracts. He affirmed 'that there should lie no bargaining in these matters, as the war killed all question oft .balance between supply and demand. ''Busine,s as usual" was a damnable doctrine in War time, and'meir who asked for it were unpatriotic and disloyal. It was a shameful* 'tiling. We could count on our hands the nuiuber of men who had declined to make profits from the war. State taxation must be remediable, and he looked to the National Government to do their utmost to be up and doing infixing taxation on the right shoulders'. War

vns ujA'de the excuse tor wringing rom the pockets of the people sums of aoney which not otherwise be aid. He deprecated the increase in l le cost of food supplies. They had to leal with extraordinary*circumstances, uul lie hoped the Government in their taxation scheme would get away from ittle things. If the v had men like dessis Percy McHardy, A. C. Whatnan, and Guy Williams, they would lot need to enact extra taxation, riiose who had contributed., voluntarily, four times the amount of taxation lemanded under the Budget should not be asked to pay more. It was for the National Government to see that men who had made war'profits should be compelled to play the game. Without the supremacy of the Navy these profits would not have been possible. He wished the National Government well, hut his motto was: "My country, right or wrong;" not. "My Government, right or wrong."