THE ESTIMATES.
DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT. CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION. By Teleenpk.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Niglit. The House of Representatives went into Committee this afternoon to consider the Estimates, the Treasury Department (£80,872) being the first to come under review. In reply to questions, Mr. Massey said the amount of loan- money raised at i'/z per cent., free of income tax, was £50,108,383. On the question of increasing the superannuation of retired civil servants, ho said the Government had desired to do something last year, but tlie financial position had not permitted. He was not sure the financial position had much improved in the meantime, hut he would consider the matter again, and if anything was done it would be done by fixing a minimum rate of superannuation. 1 Mr. Holland said the contract, made between the Government-and the civil servants shpuld be honored. The only way to do this was to bring the superannuation up to the value of £1 sterling at the time the contract was made. He moved to reduce the, first item in the vote by £l, as an indication to the Government that this should be done. Mr. Massey, in the course of the discussion, said he was*as sympathetic as anyone else with superannuated servants. At present the Government were doing their best to keep down the cost of living, and were spending £400,000 annually keeping down the price of butter and bread. . He would certainly jro into the matter again, and perhaps in two months' time he would be able to do something.
On a division the amendment was lost by 35 votes to I®, and the vote was then passed.
The National Provident and Friendly Societies Department {£36,640), Land and Income Tax Department (£50,978) and Pensions Department (£65,958) were passed without discussion.
TRADE .WITH AMERICA After the navy vote had been- disposed of tho next item was the Department of Industries and Commerce ( i.054;(42).
Mr. Wilford asked the (iovernmpnt to keep an eye on the American shipping laws, also to appoinr a live agei\t at 'Frisco, and pay him a proper salary.; The. present agent was in receipt of .tfOO a year, and could not be expected to devote much time to the aflEaits o* the Dominion.
Mr. Mas gey promised that these masters would receive attention. ' Mr. Bitcliener defended the, wheat"rowers against charges of "going elow". They had loyally risen to; the call of patriotism made to them by tile Premier. r
Mr. Parrv quoted resolutions passed by the Canterbury wheat-growers, who declared that unless the price they wanted was fixed for them no wheat would be grown. Mr. Hamilton (Awarua) declared that State coal was being sold at £2 per tdn Irs-i than any other coal. It was clear that State coal was not keeping the price of the other coal down, and • lie wanted to know why the State went on losing all this revenue simply to give n few favored people the benefit of State coal, because all the people of the Dominion were not getting cheap State i'oal. At 1.15 a.m. Mr. Fraser moved an amendment to reduce the vote by £1 as an indication that the price tribunals had failed in their purpose. The debate was continued till 1.45 a.m., when a division was taken and the amendment was lost by 34 votes to 8. The vote was then passed. The Department of External Affairs vote ( £13,967) was passed without discussion. The House rose at 1.50 a.m.
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Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 5
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578THE ESTIMATES. Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 5
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