SPENDING AND TAXING

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 741, 14 August 1929, Page 6

SPENDING AND TAXING

STATE EXPENDITURE 0! RELIEF BUDGET DEBATE COW (THE SL’N'S l’m‘liamrntary Re WELLINGTON. new) The Minister of Public Wm the Hon: E. A. Ransom. said it“. not destrab'le that large “"83 should continue to be expended 0n relief works, In the course of hi: speech in the Budget debug today. The Government “as making 37"" possible endeavour {0 place men On more productive works than they hid been engaged on during the pm 1: months. A special committee m been set up to inquire into the c...“ of unemployment. The Covenant had decided to consider the m mendations of the committee as My were brought forward and to put fiiuto operation immediately it a“: were acceptable.

One of the first acts of administration had been {3% standard rates of pay to W workers. and the opinion had beg.“ pressed that many would give “9": tions to take relief work. The 60'“ men: had got over the dimculty b" employing men on the (mom system. and the result was tint the work being done at the present 111. was-costing the country less an it did under the lower rates of my. er. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) Slfl a. Prime Minister was justified in “a. ing additional revenue, but. he did lit agree with some of the method‘... ployed.‘ He thought it was Mg, increasethe primage duty. It u been stated that the cost I. h“ would be'only three shillings. m added to the. original tax. would nah six shillings, and over a. period 'l‘ full year.(the amount estinnted u tononlysixmonths) it would M to wt‘velve shillings. The m duty «vould. therefore, cost a W man‘s family of five a total 0! £3 . year.

' Mr. A. Hamilton (\Vallace) audit had been stated the Government In not. going to embark on a prom of reckless expenditure, but the Qua. diture for the first quarter 0! 1h present year had shown an alumna! £OOO.OOO. He was inclined to think the South Island railway exam. might prove an extravagant underuting. Mr. Hamilton said the M indicated a. policy 0: borrow, tax u spend. -_ u _ __ ‘_

Mr. H. M, Rushworth (Bay of Islands) protested against raising on cost of living by increasing the m. age duty. but he agreed with certain aspects of the increase in the hfl tax. It was desirable thatcom kinds of estates should be broken a), but the proposals might involve m hardship. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) It!!! he wished to ask the Hon. W. Downy Stewart some questions. Wu bl negotiating at the end of his term at oflice for a loan of £5,000,000? WI! he going to take the money It I higher or a lower rate of interest than it was eventually borrowed at by the Prime Minister“! The Reform Government had estimated om £7,000,000 for public works. How was it going to carry on these works with a loan of £5,000,000? _

.. Him— d—égéieV sziéfi lidjréurned until tomorrow.