THE BUDGET DEBATE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10695, 16 August 1912, Page 5

THE BUDGET DEBATE

CONTINUED IN THE HOUSE SMALLER GUNS FIRING. (By I'eiegrapn—Press association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tho Budget Debate was continued m the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr G. Hunter (Waipawa), who said he would refrain from personalities. Referring to Mr G. W. Russell's speech, he said Mr Russell's charge of incon&iatency against Messrs Reed and T. W. Rhodes reminded him strongly of Satan reproving sin. He agreed that the Council needed reforming, and that body should cor- j tainly be elective. If only half the reforms outlined in the Budget were carried out, the Government would be doing excellent work. Regarding tho graduated land tax, he maintained that it would press very heavily on those holding large areas-. The large owners should bo given a fair opportunity to unload. The throwing on tho market hastily of a large number of estates would make for unemployment, as the men on the estates would be thrown out of work. He favoured tho suggestion that a railway manager should be secured from London. Ho advocated the investment of all moneys received by the Natives for their lands, the interest to be payable to them, and thug prevent many " Maoris . becoming paupers. He was pleased to know rhat-tho Government intended making provision for roads and bridges in • the back blocks, and praised the proposed humanitarian' measures. MR T. M. WILFORD; « Mr.T. M. Wilford (Hutf describe-i 1 the Budget as <the greatest political illusion ever known. Hon. Mr Pomare: "Yes, we stole it!" Mir Wilford: I will accept the statement cf the hon. gentleman.. Proceeding; Mr Wilford said though tho Government had only been in' office a short time, they had blundered grievously. The Hon. Mr Allen had started his career hy renewing a sum of £BOO,OOO cf Post Office debentures at 3J- instead of 3| per cent. The Minister of ■ Finance knew that the Department could only pay per" cent. - The Postmaster-General knew 3-J per cent should be paid by the Minister of Finance. Mr Wilford criticised the Government for suggesting that the Licensing Bill should be introduced by a private member, when the Premier had previously said a private member had not- a fifty to one chance of getting such a measure through. The third blunder was conI nected with racing permits. The fourth blunder was in the Govern- / ment allowing the pane.Ts to publish {articles to the effect that the Mount Nessiog and Sherenden estates had been acquired by the new Government, when the purchases were made , by the Liberal Government before relinquis'liing office. The fifth blunder was .in deferring the tariff questionThat, he said, was how the Government's heart was bleeding for the consumer. In criticising the finances, Mr Wilford said tint it was a wicked thing/that five banks should control the money market of thiy country. He declared that the graduated land taxdid not meai'i what it said. The financial proposals afoot, and the land propr-vsalis, would raiso the rate cf interest to everyone. Ho criticised the education proposals, and tho workers homes proposal'', and said the Government was going to endeavour to kill the Arbitration Act. Ho asked why the Budget was. silent regarding the manufacturer and industries proposals. The Public Service Commission would develop the worst form of political patronage. The election of the Upper House proposal was more for the rich man against the poor. MR NOSWORTHY. Mr Nosworthy said the country would not endoiT'O Mr Wilford's views. He. asked, did the Opposition expect the Government to bring down- all the legislation referred to at once, when they had only been in office a short time? Interest had mot been raised [ • through the Government's- proposals. [ It had been the game of the Liberals .! to bump up land values, to secure ; larger amounts of taxation. So far • from the Government stealing the ' Liberal's proposals, the Liberals, had • silently and stealthily stolen tl.eir - plankfj. They had fought seven el- [ ections on the platform they had to- ", day. He denied tho statement that the graduated land tax would affect a - 1 few people only. H c approved of an - ' elective Council, and believed the Ci- - vil Service 'Reform Bill would com- " mend itself to every civil servant in ~ ( the country. It would end polit'ca' v patronage. He approved the pro- . posal to get a first-class man to man- ■>• ) age the railways, the management of I -which for 20 years had been horrible ; - and extravagant. The whole tone of II the Budget was elevating.

MR W. A. VEITCH

Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) ex- | pressed himself it* favour of the cooperative system cf carrying out public works, though the system might possibly be reformed. He thought a change in the personnel of the Arbitration Court would weaken rather than strengthen that body. What was wanted was to remove the cause that led to the grievance of the workers. Mr Yeitch caid he was convinced no improvement in the work of the Arbitration Court could take place till