A LIBERAL INSTITUTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 171, 21 July 1928, Page 21

A LIBERAL INSTITUTION.

\ STATE FIRE OrFICE. QUESTION OF "VULGAR EPITHETS.'' MR. J. A. LEE PROTESTS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON*, Friday. the Hod. W. Xosworthy moved to introduce the State Fire Insurance Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) said that if there was one institution that had escaped more than others from the cramping and confining blight of "Coates and Confidence" it was the State Fire Office. That Socialist institution had done a great deal for New Zealand. He wanted the Minister to give an assurance that this amendment would make it possible for the *-tate Fire Department to compete even more successfully than it had done in the past. "This glorious institution was established by the old Liberal continued Mr. Lee, '"yet the party which has been called the U-Popoes seems to ha\e declared for a policy of infanticide. It wants no more extensions of State departments." Mr. Lee said the member for Wanganui had openly declared himself hostile to any extensions. There was much to be said for this old Liberal institution, in that it had accumulated funds to the extent of £623.000 in 1926, and total assets valued at £661,000, said Mr. Lee. Yet it had never cost the State one penny piece. This showed the futility of the parrot-cry, "Where is the money to come from" whenever further State institutions were suggested. Mr. Lee hoped would be further reductions in premiums, so that the profits could be used for the benefit ,of the loyal policyholders. and funds be built up for use as State loans, thus saving the export of credit at high interest. t p till 1925, it had been estimated, the State Fire Insurance Office had saved the people of New Zealand £4,000.000 by reason of its reduced premiums, continued Mr. Lee. It had assisted the State in many ways, principally by taking a large share of State loan's. In 1926 it had paid income tax on about £15,000 ii.jome. Mr. W. A. Veitch. member for Wanganui. protested that he had been misrepresented by the member for Auckland East, and showed that the statement attributed to him was not precisely correct. In sneaking of Mr. Lee's reference to the "'U-Popoes."' Mr. Veitch u«ed the term "vulgar epithet." Mr. Lee rose to a point of order. Mr. Speaker: Was the lion, member referring to the statement made by the number for Auckland East? Mr. Veith: Yes. T was. Mr. Sneaker: Then the hon. member nitTct withdraw.

Mr. Veitch: I withdraw it, sir, and will say that I have no intention of using vulgar epithets on this or any olher occasion. (Laughter.) The Leader of the Nationalist jiartv (Mr. G. W. Forbes) took a different view.. He did not mind a few io-ular references. Such lisTit interludes were welcome. The Minister of Education (Mr. Wright) might lie the self-con-fessed joker of the Reform narty. but everyone knew that Mr. Lee was the self-oonfesspd joker of the Labour p&rty. Mr. Forbes honed that the State Fire Insurance would not be allowed to get ir.to a backwash. Tt was unouestu nnble that the Liberal legislation which brought this office into existence did make a va K t difference in the rates of premiums years ago. when the private companies rates were too high. One would like to think the same spirit was actuating the office to-day. and that the Department was beine maintained on the original linp=. Of course, it was rot to be rxpeetod that a nolitical nartv whicli opnosed its introduction would have anv v°rv sympathetic feelin<rs towards the Department, on gaining the Treasury Benches. The bill was introduced and read a first time.