STATE PRIVILEGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1938, Page 6

STATE PRIVILEGE

THE CONTROL OF MONETARY POLICY MR J. A. LEE’S CONTENTION . DEMOCRACY IN THE ARMY (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The debate on the Financial Statement was continued by Mr J. A. Lee Under-Secretary for Housing, when the House resumed at 10.30 a.m. today. He contended that the control of the country’s monetary system was the privilege of the 'State. Replying to an Opposition interjection regarding the right of the four colonels to criticise the Government’s defence policy, Mr Lee said the colonels had the right of criticism, but if a private had gone out on a soapbox and criticised a colonel, he would soon have been disciplined. If there were to be democracy in the Army, it should apply equally to both colonels and privates. FOUR COLONELS DEFENDED. Mr W. J. Broadfoot, referring to the four colonels, said these men had not given a political dissertation. They were experienced men who had merely given their considered opinion. Yet they had been retired. ' HOUSING & RADIO. He criticised the Government’s transport and housing policy and stated that in his district the average price of Government houses was £1,150 each and that did not include the price oi the sections. He also stated that the time had arrived, for an inquiry into the whole broadcasting service of the Dominion, which had developed into a radio ramp. He contrasted the staff and pay of the main and commercial stations, stating that the staff of the main stations numbered 197 men, and their pay £56,000, while the staff of the commercial stations totalled 299 and their pay £74,000. Mr Broadfoot said it was being freely stated that there was going to be a reorganisation in the whole commercial service. In fact one of the best known Australian experts was at present in Wellington, and was being entertained by the Government for just that purpose. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon D. G. Sullivan): “He has been invited here for an entirely different purpose.” Mr J. W. Munro said that although the Opposition complained of the heavy burden of taxation and said the present Government had made no effort. to reduce it. he would ask what taxes would the Opposition have taken off if it had been returned to office. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 1 p.m.