STATE FINANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 June 1938, Page 9

STATE FINANCE

HOUSE DEBATES IMPREST BILL POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. MR SAVAGE ON MONEY INTERESTS. (By Telegraph-- Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Members of the House of Representatives had an opportunity to express their views on almost any subject of political interest when consideration was given yesterday to an Imprest Supply Bill containing authority for the financing of various State services. Urgency was taken for the Bill so that it could be put through all stages and passed at one sitting. With few exceptions- Opposition and Government members spoke alternately throughout the debate. The debate on the Bill was opened by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Adam Hamilton, who challenged recent Ministerial statements that New Zealand's public debt had been reduced during the past two years. He pointed out that the Government had borrowed pretty extensively during that time, and contended that the debt had been increased. Reference was also made by Mr Hamilton and other Opposition speakers to the drop in overseas credits. He asserted that a large proportion of the shortage of £12,000,000 was accounted for by the flight of capital. The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon M. J. Savage, took part in the debate during the afternoon. Replying to a statement by the Hon Sir Alfred Ransom (Opposition. Pahiatua) that money was leaving the country and would return when the Opposition became the Government, Mr Savage said that meant that if ne National Party had its way the people controlling funds would in future dictate the legislation of this country as they had done in the past. Money interests, he said, were not going to be allowed to dictate the policy of the Dominion.

The Address-in-Reply debate will open in the House tonight, when the mover. Dr D. G. McMillan (Government. Dunedin West), and the seconder. Mr B. Roberts (Government. Wairarapa). will speak. There will be no other speakers. The debate will be continued tomorrow.