BUDGET DEBATE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 7

BUDGET DEBATE

CONTINUED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REFERENCES TO FOREIGN POLICY. THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY PROJECT. (By Telegrapn—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Discussion again covered a wide range in the Financial Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. '1 here were seven speakers, bringing ll:e tolal io 43 since the debate opened, leavmg out of account the speeches made last Friday on an Opposition Amendment. Urgency was again taken by the Acting Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser).

Legislation was introduced by the Attorney-General. Mr Mason, to provide for the appointment of concilialuis to attempt to effect a reconciliation between husband and wife in separation proceedings. The Bill was read a secund time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The two Opposition speakers were Mr A. N. Grigg (Mid-Canterbury) and Mr W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago). Mr Grigg criticised the attacks by Labour members on British foreign policy, and said that in view of these the Government should make a statement clarifying its attitude towards this policy Mr Bodkin deprecated Government members' criticism of Britain's financial assistance to this country. Government speakers included Mr W. J. Lyon (.Waitcmataj. who suggested that defence expenditure should be financed either by a straightout levy on the capital value of property or by a tax on the individual based on income. The proposed of £5,000,000 on the development of an iron and steel industry in Onekaka was defended by Mr C. F. Skinner (Government, Motueka), who said that the money would be spent in creating a self-liquidating asset. The Legislative Council met yesterday after an adjournment since July 31. Its next meeting will be on August 24.

The House rose at 11.27 p.m.'till today.