DRAWING ENEMY FIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 7

DRAWING ENEMY FIRE

MR. JENKINS LEADS SKIRMISH TALK ON MANY THINGS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In the resumption of the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives today, Mr. H. R. Jenkins (Parnell)* provided some tit-bits and some ammunition for the marksmen of the Opposition. He started off by referring to taxation and urging that the tax on the farmer, whose income had increased, should be replaced and that the burden should be placed more on income than on Customs, as it had been in the past. He went on to state that roads beat the railways every time, but said that he would vote with the Government on railway matters, and that he would favour the South Island railway. He referred to increased working costs, and said that he was nervous about the fact that the figures often exceeded the Public Works Department estimate. If his object was to mystify his hearers as to his exact position on railway questions, he succeeded thoroughly. He started off the resumption of his speech from Friday with the observation that the farmer occupied the most honourable position in New Zealand and that he should receive any honours that were being awarded. The main industry in New Zealand was the farming industry. He said that while Reform may have subdivided some estates, there had also been much aggregation. He instanced the purchase of the Westella Estate by the Government at £55 an acre, and said that there were 159 applicants for holdings, and not one of the successful applicants had less than £SOO in assets. Reform Members: Oh, oh, oil. Thought it was for the working man. Mr. Jenkins claimed that on the other hand the Reform Government had purchased Te Wera Estate at a high figure and had not received a suitable application. The estate was now being run by a manager. Tacking away to tariffs, Mr. Jenkins said he was a free-trader —-within the Empire—and referred to the necessity for reductions in Customs duties, and the increasing of income tax. He hoped that the present Government would replace the tax on the farmers that had been taken off them. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames): But didn’t you say that was the main industry? Mr. F. Laugstone (Waimarino): The cockies won’t like that. Mr. Speaker called for order. Mr. Jenkins said that since the tax had been removed the exports of wool had increased by over 50 per cent. If the owners’ incomes had doubled, there was plenty of room for the Government to work there and get additional taxation which today was being derived largely from income. Mr. Laugstone: Will the new bank be in favour of increased income tax? Regarding the Government railway policy, Mr. Jenkins said that he would support the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway only. The railways had no chance to compete against a really well-maintained concrete or bitumen road. He gave facts and figures in support of this contention. The South Island Mam Trunk railway had a national and military aspectMembers: Oh! Mr. Jenkins: Yes, oh. The day may come when we may have to shift munitions and supplies by rail.