PARLIAMENT USURPED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 10

PARLIAMENT USURPED

CIVIL SERVANTS’ POWERS LIBERTY OF PEOPLE MENACED Heavy battery assaults on the Reform administration were made by Mr. iR. B. Speirs, United candidate for I Auckland West, in a speech which he ; gave at the Leys Institute last even- ; ing. He said that fundamental democratic ! principles had been planted by Reform, and the United Party was a move- | ment of protest against this, j He considered that individual j liberty had been menaced by the • powers of departmental heads through ! the continuance of Orders-in-Council. | Parliament had been subordinated to civil servants without Labour or Re- ; form making protest. The candidate went on to say that the Hon. A. D. McLeod, as Minister in Charge of Industries and Commerce was virtually the arbiter of the Boa .1 of Trade, delegating powers to officers, who could suppress, fix prices, and impose fines. He could give a civil seri vant greater powers than a select committee.

Referring to taxation, Mr. Speirs said he had no doubt about his party’s ability to obtain revenue. He would be in favour of taxing farmers’ incomes after allowing a margin up to £1,500. He would also put a 50 per cent, super-tax on the income from land belonging to absentee owners. A vote of confidence in the candidate was carried with applause.