GENERAL. ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16358, 1 November 1918, Page 9

GENERAL. ASSEMBLY.

-♦ Titohsdat, October 31. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (ABRIDGED TRESS ASSOCIATION RErORT.) WELLINGTON. October 31. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ADDRESS-IN-KEPLY DEBATE. The Hon. J. B. .Gow continued the debate on the Address-m-Roply. He said ho did not anticipate the difficulties predicted by sonic people in counexion with repatriation. The soTdiers would be absorbed without difiicultv. He suggested the establishment of institutes in the cities to provide accommodation for children nho had come from the country to com- | plete their . ' The Hon. "NV. H. Triggs emphasised tho need of the Dominion continuing to pav attention to the defence system after the war. The settlement of soldiers, on the land should be part of a comprehensive colonisation scheme, with a view to increasing production by the settlement of new lands. He did not approve of segregating soldiers frbm the rest of the community; he suggested their settlement on readymade fnrms, As was done in Canada. Tho Hon. G. J. Garland advocated increased pay to school teachers and the abolition of the overlapping in tho secondary education system. The Hon. H. L. Michel said ho hoped there would be a coalition of the best men in all the parties for the settlement of post-war problems. He urged greater activity in increasing the gold production. The debate was adjourned at 5 p.m. HOUSE OP I^BPRBSISNTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. WHISKY CARGOES. Mr Jsitt gavo notice to ask whether it was true that when a vessel en route, to New Zealatra called at an English, port, legitimate cargo which., had been, waiting for a month had befen left aside, while whisky, which had. just arrived, was shipped. . . . SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. 'Mr Luke asked the Minister ot Trade and Commerce whether he would agree to set up a committee with, a view to strengthening tho position of secondary industries, especially hS such a policy would help in providing suitable employment for returned soldiers. At 3.5 p.m. the House adjourned until ?.30 p.m. to enable Ministers to hold a Cabinet meeting during tlu afternoon. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ; address-in-reply. Mr Wilkinson resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He devoted hiniself to a criticism of the Labour Party's ideals, claiming that they represented the deserters, shirkers, ana cold-footers who refused to fight for their country. Their opposition to this Military Service Act would not be endorsed by the people of this' Dominion now or in fifty years' time. Discussing after-the-war problems, Mr Wilkinson asked if the Government bad framed any comprehensive scheme of repatriation, and if so, whether that fchemo would be submitted to Parliament. Mr Massey: Yes. Mr .Brown: When? Mr Massey: This session. Mr Wilkinson, continuing, saftr n« hoped there would be no attempt made to keap men under military control a dav longer than was necessary, ana that business firms whose employees had gone to the front should be compelled to take ex'ery one of those employees back into their employ on their return to the Dominion. On the liquor ( question "he said he favoured a referendum, but thought that great caution was necessary to safeguard against licenses being restored in the event of prohibition with compensation being carried. The Hon. D. Buddo expressed - the opinion education system re-1 quired remodelling. More direct control was needed, and to gain this ob- j ject he did not tare what was abolished. With reference to the railways, he criticised details of administration j iyhich,lie said, irritated settlers. Somecue acquainted with local conditions ] should t»e appointed to manage tha I railways. He defended the producers •; against the charges of demanding excessive prices. He advocated a vigorous scheme of afforestation as part of the Dominion's after-the-war policy.; In the same connexion lie expressed a hope that nothing in the nature of the communal system would be adopted in settling .soldiers. . They should be distributed amongst the ceneral public as much as possible. For this purpose iocal committees should be set up and a grateful country should see that every man who came back received some permanent benefit for the sacrifices he had made. _ Mr Ar.stey complaincd that the leaders of tho country were absent from the Dominion for so long. He attributed much of the present unpopularity of tho National Government to the fact that there was no leadership to check tho exploitation which was goinsj on everywhere. Huge profits wero > being made, and these profits were being put into tho ivar loans, which, were free of taxation. On the other hand our industries were being subjected to which they were unable to bear, anil which threatened to > crush them out. He deplored the abolition of tho mortgage tax, because it freed thousands of peopte who had previously paid from . taxation altogether, in the sarao way that shareholders of big compsmies being exempted. He contended ITiat much of our land taxation tended to increase aggregation. Every graduated land tax was futile as a weapon against I aggregation. A n amendment of tho

law was also required in regard to taxation of co-operativo companies. Tho present system of taxation was compelling them to adopt the same exploiting methods as limited liability companies. They must adopt these methods, or e° out of business. On the subject of the liquor question he favoured a referendum, but was emphatically against the payment of compensation. Now that the war was drawing to a close he doubted the wisdom of holding a general olcction, but be did not want to see a reconstruction of the Ministry, .oven if that meant going back as a party Government. His view was that there were some members of the Government who would serve their country better in a less responsible position. J' , . the Dominion stood in need of at this juncture was a statesman with a po'i p .T which would repair the ravages of this wicked war. . Sir Rhodes (Thames) . advocated a vigorous public works policy to develop our resources and increase production. This was the only way to recoup the waste of the war. , . The debate was and tJie House rose at 11.35 p.m.