BUDGET DEBATE OVER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3418, 23 August 1913, Page 5

BUDGET DEBATE OVER.

MR. MASSEY TWITS THE OPPOSITION.

“HAS NEVER SEEN A SET OF MEN SO EMBARRASSED.”

HOUSE NOW CONSIDERING THE CONSOLIDATED ESTIMATES.

[MESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS] WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. In the House tin's afternoon, Mr Atmore (Nelson), dealing with the Budget, said he was pleased to see that provision was made to foster the fruit industry, which meant a great deal to Nelson. That district had a magnificent industry before it in the fruit industry. Already many orders had been received from South America and elsewhere. The workers of the country were getting restive and felt that they were not getting government for the people by the people. They had a Government of land monopolists and vested interests, who had not the welfare of the people at heart. Mr Hindmarsh said he hoped the Government would cause full and complete statistics to be secured of all trades and industry. He considered, that New Zealand lagged behind, all countries in that respect. Sufficient encouragement had not been given to the Arbitration Act. The Government’s policy regarding land seemed to be to sell land, borrow money *n security and lend it out. The Premier had said before the Farmers’ Conference that a man could make a living on five acres. If that was so what an immense future the country had before it! Ho implored the Premier io think out some scheme whereby the great rural problem could be settled. It did not matter whether he sank or swam. He should give the lead in tfi.3 matter.

Mr Massey, in replying, said land "for settjers was not scarce, as was imagined. If Mr Hindmarsh would go on the land he would give him a section to-morrow. He had never seen a set of men so embarrassed as lie Opposition during the debate just >oncluded. Mr Allen had not gone in for window-dressing, hut had put out a plain statement of the affairs of the country. It was a credit to.'him. They had just experienced a more prosperous season than the pweding one. Settlers had risen to occasion, with the result that the Country was in a more prosperous condition than in 1912. For the month of July last there had been in increase of £596,456 in the exports over the figures of July, 1912. Those figures showed confidence in the administration. The Government had put forward their policy in Wellington in July, 1911, and "they had adhered to it entirely. They did not change their policy everv week or so. He dealt with each of“ the planks of the platform, and contended that each had been carried out. Members of the Opposition were using teachers lor party purposes, and the teachers knew exactly where they were. The Government was going to see the matter of the teachers’ salaries put right. An instalment of what was going to bo done would come before the House this session. The Government would increase the taxation of those who could afford to pay it. A Board of Agriculture would be establised, which would be purely an advisory board, no payments being attached to the position. It had been asserted that withdrawals exceeded deposits in the Post Office during the Government’s regime, hut figures proved the contrary. Ihe unauthorised expenditure was larger last year because of the rapid growth of railw at s, defence, and telegraphs, which no Oppositionist could object to. He quoted instances of largo estates cut up durnot disposing of their estates. Dealing the past 12 months in answer to criticisms that large landowners were ing with the assertions that the Government had increased the public debt by £5,700,000, he said the Mackenxie Government had borrowed £4,500,000 of that amount. A statement had been made regarding New Zealand stock. He quoted from a London newspaper showing that New Zealand’s 4 per cent’s were quoted at 100, Queensland 99, South Australia 99, Victoria 100, N.S. Wales 101. Our credit stood higher now that it ever was before, and was above the average of the Australian States. He defended the appointment of- Mr Northcroft to tho Commissionership of the Cook Islands. Mr Northcroft had not applied for the position. He (Mr Massey) believed that Mr Northcroft was the most suitable man for the position of Resident Commissioner. The House went into committee on the Estimates. , On the first item of the Estimates (Legislative Council, £1512), Mr. Russell asked the Premier why. he had spent £IOO,OOO in the administration of the Lands Department less than had been granted to him by the House. The Ward Government had settled 430,000 acres in 1911, 'but“settlement, more settlement ; and still more settlement” had -only settled 153,000 acres in their first year of office. Mr, Massev said that as Munster for lands ho had refused to renew’ the licenses of a large number of grazing runs ponding legislation this session. That accounted for the difference in area. The reason why the vote was not all expended was because an abnormal sum in rents came into the department and consequently it was not necessary to draw on the vote to the full extent. Sir Joseph Ward asked the Minister for finance what rates were paid on raising the last loan and whether those rates were lower than for. any loan which he (Sir Joseph Ward) had made. Mr. Allen said the underwriters received 1 per cent, the brokers £ per cent, the Pan]: of England \ per cent and commission i i>er cent. These charges' were the same as the Ward Government had pakl. Sir Joseph Ward then quoted Hansard: to show that Mr. Allen had blamed his Government for paying excessive charges oh the five million loan. The admission made by Mr Allen was evidence that men were sobered by the responsibility of office. With, his wider knowledge of financial newoiations, li© had now that he was unable to get a reduction in the charges paid by New' Zealand, Canada, and all tlhe Australian States and that the rates paid by him (Sir Joseph "Ward) were not excessive. This was a matter of considerable importance to him as he had been subjected to considerable criticism on entreated the Minister to bring down the Land Bill early enough to allow sufficient consideration as it would remove the question from the political arena for some years to qome.. , Mr. Massey, replying, said the Land Bill would be brought down m time to allow Parliament to thoroughly consider every phase of the land qU Meesns. Bradney and Veitch complained of the jerry character of many buildings put up for workers k°Tbe first item was passed, and the House rose at 12.35 a.m.