ADDRESS-IN REEPLY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16883, 10 July 1920, Page 9

ADDRESS-IN REEPLY.

MR STATHAM'S AMENDMENT LOST. close op the debate. (abridged tress association* retort.) "WELLINGTON, July 9. • In the House of Representatives the division was taken at 2.5 a.m. on Mr C. E. Statham's motion that the following amendment, by way of addition, be made to the Address-in-Reply to his Excellency the Governor-General's Speech: "We feel it, however, to be our duty to submit to your Excellency that, in the opinion of this House, your Excellency's Government should, if not elected by this House, at least be elected by members of the dominant party in this House.'' The amendment was negatived by 41 votes to 30, the division list being as follows: — For Amendment (30). Atmorc Masters Bartram Mitchell Craigie Newman, A. K. Dickson, J. M. Parry Edio Poland Forbes Savage Fraser Seddon Hanan iSidev ■» ' Holland Smith, S. G. Horn Statham Howard Sullivan lsitt Thacker Kellett Veitch MeCombs "Witty Mac Donald Young Against Amendment (41). Anderson Luke. Bitchener Lysnar Bollard McLeod Burnett McNicol Campbell Malcolm Coates Mander Dickson, J. S. Massey Field Nash Glenn Nosworthy Guthrie Parr Hamilton, A. Pomare Hamilton, J. R. Potter Harris Powdrell Hawken Heid Henare Rhodes, R. H. Herries Rhodes, T. W. Hockley Smith, R. W. Hudson Sykes Hunter Uru Jones "W 1 right Lee ' Pairs. For amendment: Ngata and McCallum. ~ ± , a Against amendment: Stewart ana Newman, E. On tho motion of Mr MeCombs, the debate on tho Address-in-Reply was adjourned. The House rose at 2.10 a.m. The debate was resumed at the afternoon sitting by ~.,■, Mr S. G. Smith (Taranaki), who defined his position as an Independent. He was not wedded to any party, and would use his vote in the interests of all tho people. He urged more active efforts to develop the Dominion's oil resources, and regretted that the Government had not negotiated with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, as had been done by Australia. He also urged that effective steps should bo taken to put the iron-smelting industry on a proper footing. . Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) complained that while provision was being made to develop hvdro'-electric works in tho North Island*, the Otago schemes were being neglected. The people in the South were indignant at the Ministerial neglect in this matter. He favoured wiping out the present defence system and replacing it with a system of training in the schools and colleges, the latter 5 to have special courses for the study of different branches of military science. The cost of such a system would bo small compared with the present expenditure of half a million annually, with, the prospects of increasing. The Parliamentary Standing Orders needed revision to give members more power in tho initiation and passage, of legislation. Referring to proportional .representation, he said he recognised its apparent mechanical perfection, but it was not practically workable. The first-past-the-post system was the best that could be "devised at present. Mr W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) said he had long been a member of trade unions, yet Labour was determined to opposo his election, despite the fact that one Labour candidate withdrew in his favour. An interjection by Mr M. J. Savage, "That's not true," had to bo withdrawn by direction of the Speaker. Mr Jennings pointed out what had been dono for Labour by Liberalism. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) urged that the great bulk of tho people, the consumers, should receive fair play. Regarding immigration, he thought that rather than spend money on securing immigrants from oversea, they should encourage the birth-rate in New Zealand by "giving a maternity bonus where necessary. It was the .doubt how they were going to bring up children that stood in tho way of large families today. The cost of living was the stumbling-block. . . At the evening sitting, Mr \\itty continued his .speech, traversing the Governor-General's speech, on which ho based adverse criticism of the Government. ■ Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) said if ever there was a time when we in New Zealand should drop party strife, that time was now, when we had to face great questions of reconstruction. Tho Labour Party's programme was easily tho best before the people, but he resented the claim that it was the result of the brains of their leaders. It was not new —it was as old as the hills—but tho Labour Party would never achieve its ideal until it widened its view and recognised all who worked with hand or brain as workers. Production was. tho real cure for the high cost of living, and «n this connexion he blamed the Government for not disseminating sound views on economics to countermisleading statements by men who had but n smattering of economic science. To assist production, he urged the Government to encourage scientific research. Discussing social questions, which at present were shaking tho world, lie said these questions must bo settled either in the Houses of Parbament or in the streets, by constitutional means, or by force. The world had its choice. If the Government would do the things necessary to solve these problefs, there would be no' fear of the "Bolshie," who would lose recruits the moment the Government took steps to remove the cause of the unrest. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland), asked tho Prime Minister to formulate a policy as a means of assisting the mining industry. He recommended a substantial reward for the discovery of new fields, and more liberal subsidies towards prospecting. Much of tho coal shortage might have been obviated had tho Government exercised tho powers given it by Parliament, and purchased steamers to carry coal from the West Coast to other ports. At 10.20 Mr Hockley replied, and the Address-in-Reply was* agreed to. Tho House rose at 10.25 p.m.