ESTIMATES DISCUSSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 777, 25 September 1929, Page 6

ESTIMATES DISCUSSED

SLOW PROGRESS MADE BY HOUSE MANY ISSUES RAISED THE SUN-'S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Today. Consideration of the Estimates was resumed by the House of Representatives yesterday in Committee of Supply. The Department of Lands and Survey Estimate, of £186,795, was taken first. There was some discussion regarding the name of the hostel at National Park. Other members drew attention to the reduction in the Estimate for the eradication of noxious weeds, and reference was also made to the sum for | the destruction of rabbits. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Government —Grey Lynn) referred to the money that could be obtained from the sale of skins, and asked whether the grant for the destruction of rabbits was necessary. The Minister, the Hon. G. \V. Forbes, stated it had been found that when rabbits were in plenty It was possible to make money from the sale of skins, but when the numbers bad been reduced and further destruction had been desired it had been necessary to pay men to carry out the work. The Minister stated that the grant for the eradication of noxious weeds was a matter for which the Depart- ; nient of Agriculture was responsible. ’ He agreed that it was a serious matter, and he would confer with the ’ officers of the Department of Agriculture on the subject. He pointed out I that closer settlement was likely to result in more vigorous eradication of weeds. The vote was passed and the Estimate for the Department of Agrieul- ! ture, £435,383, was taken next. Replying to Sir George Hunter (Reform —Waipawa), Mr. Forbes stated that every precaution was taken when stud stock were Imported into the country in view of the possibility of their spreading foot and mouth disease. CARRIAGE OF FERTILISERS . Members urged that greater assist-. 1 ance should be afforded the tobaccogrowing Industry in New Zealand, and others protested against the reduction , in concessions for the carriage of lime and fertilisers on the railways, j Mr. J. O’Brien (Westland) urged J that the same concessions should be , given toward transport of fertilisers i to “out-back” farmers not served by railways. ' Mr. C. H. Chapman (Wellington North) ref erred to the provision of £5,800 as a guarantee for the export of eggs and urged that the depart- [ ment, before assisting the export of this product, should see that local ‘ requirements were not neglected. The Minister assured the House that there was no intention to alter the present practice in relation to the , carriage of lime and manure. The i reduction in the grant was merely a matter for financial rearrangement as l between the Department of Agricul- , ture and the Railway Department. In . regard to the tobacco-growing indus- : try, he pointed out it would be an easy matter to reach a stage of overproduction in regard to the present market demand. Whether the mar- . ket demand would increase was de- [ pendent on improved means of j manufacture. ■ Anything the Government could do . to build up the poultry industry was also a step in the right direction, continued the Minister. The purpose . of the guarantee was to test the overseas market and ascertain what was the prospect of building up the in- . dustry in New Zealand. The local market did not suffer as a result of export. The result of the export pork bonus . was criticised by some members and defended by others. The Minister , stated that this method of assisting the industry had been selected after | careful investigation. If a better method could be suggested he would ; be pleased to Consider it. STANDING ORDERS SUSPENDED | At 10.18 p.m. the Prime Minister moved that the committee report progress. On the motion being adopted he drew attention to the fact that up to then the whole evening had been expended in a discussion of one item. It appeared that members had not , given due consideration to the future , business. Quite an inadequate amount ■ of business had been put through, and he moved the suspension of the Standing Orders to enable the Estimates to be accorded urgency. The motion was opposed on the voices, but no division was called for, ; and the House thereupon resumed in ; committee. Thus the House continued sitting after 10.30 p.m. for the first ’time since the introduction of the new Standing Orders. The discussion on the vote for agriculture continued until after mid- ; night and the vote was then passed. The Mines Department Estimate 1 was then considered. The following votes were next passed: State Fire Insurance Recount (£40,809), Government Accident In- ; surance Account (£15,265), Govern--1 ment Insurance Account (£114,867), : Audit Department (£28,399). After a very brief discussion, when ; the estimate of £72,351 for State Ad- ! vances Account was under eonsidera--1 tion, Mr. D. Jones (Mid Canterbury) ’ stated that, while there appeared to be little difficulty in obtaining loans in cities, there was not the same amount of money available for rurpl advances. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the system of advancing money on town and rural credits worked out as nearly i as possible at 50 per cent. each. The vote was passed. LAND AND INCOME TAX Replying to Mr. Coates, Sir Joseph Ward stated that he proposed to take i the second reading of the Land and Income Tax (Annual) Bill today. He ’ had agreed to meet two deputations on the subject, but it was necessary that the legislation should be placed on the Statute Book as soon as possible because, until then the ordinary : notices could not be sent out to the taxpayers. He added that there was practically no margin for concessions and there was little ground for hopes that requested changes would be granted. The House rose at 2.50 a.m.