PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18726, 24 June 1926, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

ADDRESS INREPLY,

THE DEBATE OPENS, (PBESS iSSOCUTIOH TELEOaAIt.) WELLINGTON, June 23. The House of Representatives transacted a little formal business this afternoon, and adjourned early until 7-30, the hour fixed for the opening of the Address-in-Reply debate. When the House resumed at 7.30, Air H. L. Taploy (J>unedin North) moved "That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General in reply to his Excellency's speech." In opening, he expressed the general regret which urei vailed when it was known that sudden indisposition had prevented his Excellency from personally opening Parliament, and personally addressing the members of ooth Houses. Ho trusted that his Excellency would speedily be restored to his wonted health. Passing on to the Governor-General's speech, he referred in feeling terms to the death of Queen Alexandra, and in terms of appreciation to his Excellency's visit to the Pacifio Islands under New Zealand's jurisdiction, which, he said, could result in nothing but good. His Excellency's satisfaction at what he saw in the islands was well founded, for everywhere nothing but euJogium6 were paid to New Zealand for her administration of la'and affairs.

He congratulated Mr Speaker upon his election to the chair of the House, and the Prime Minister upon his leadership of the Reform Party. Mr Coates was an out and out Imperialist, and as it was felt on that side of the House that the fortunes of the Dominion were irrevocably linked up with those of the Motherland, for that reason they all felt they oould safely leave New Zealand's interests in the Prime Minister's hands at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, where matters of vita! Imperial importance would be discussed.

The Dunedin Exhibition came in for a word of praise, its great educational influence being especially stressed, as well as the fact that the bringing together of various provinces of the minion had resulted in creating a Better feeling among different sections of our people. Ho hoped it would have the effect of reviving the tourist traffic to the South TslandT

Trade and Pinance. Discussing finance and public oredit, he congratulated the country on the success of the recent loan in England, a tribute to our undoubtedly sound position. At the same timo the effect of the unsettled state of world trade was having a reflection in New Zealand, and although the Government was putting loan money i© good use, they were no longer able to lend to settlers and others at the old cheap rates. . . ~

Discussing the trade balance, he said we must increase our exports if we wished to avoid a period of depression, ine position as revealed by statistics was serious, and he would like to see more of our trade done with other portions of the Empire. For this purpose imperial slogans were helpful. He did not think the Government "could be accused of extravagance in oublic administration, because our figures compared favourably with those of neighbouring Governments. It ■ was much the same in the matter of public debfrnot that we had much to flatter ourselves with in regard to the public debt. He would like to see some system evolved by which that debt coiild bo materially reduced He endorsed the immigration policy ? / and did not believe it had to any extent contributed to the unemployment trouble. Nor did ho believe New Zealanders had been dismissed ,tp make room for immigrants. We could do with a much larger population. It was absurd that we should s„ w r doors W'" 3 * our kinsfolk, immigrants, we oould not go wrong,

Unemployment. The Government was fully alive to the unemployment trouble, and in conjunction with local bodies, was doine everything possible to provide rel&r. byaiputhetio reference was made to the industrial trouble in Britain. It might have most disastrous influences on our overseas trade. Britain was ono of our best customers, and if her pecpie s wage-earning and purchasing powers were seriously reduced that must detrimentally affect us. He hoped some amicable arrangement would speedily be come to, so that masters and' workers could combine harmoniously in the production of wealth. He pleaded for an early and equitable settlement of the question of the site for the Agricultural College, but to thought that the matter might safely be left in the hands of the Minister. Still further land settlement' was required, and be advocated rough lands being given to settlers free of rent, to give them a; chance of developing it. The speaker sat down amidst applause, after commending the Government on its decision energetically to continue its programme of humanitarian legislation.

The Seconder,

.Seconding the motion, Mr W. Jones itarsden) dealt first with finance for irmers, a subject on which he spoke selingly, since he was a farmer. Sbortlated loans were the curse of farmers, le understood the Commission which rent Home to enquire into the operaion's of Agricultural Banks was about o return to New Zealand, and he wonlered whether their early return had wything to do with the Bant of New sealand s anxiety to give the farmers onger loans. One, thin" was certain, armers must have better finance thai ;hey had had for a long time. He did wt question the good work done bj he Advances Department and the Pubic Trust Office, but what was wantec vas a system more general in its ap >hcation. While a supply of choaj ertilisers was one of the most claman leeds of New Zealand Farmers to-day >f first importance to the dairy i n( ] nß ;ry was the question of quality. I ;bey did not maintain an article of th< iighest quality, their oroduoe must suf er under competition, on the market if the world. To this end the grad n £i of , cream " a d am vhile he agreed witb this step, he ex Tected it would at first rreate some ihinor of a riot. Bnt subsequently farmers would realise its value ant accept it with a ebnd trnop He con*ratnlat«d the Hon. Mr Williams npot his Dromotion to the portfolio of Public Works. He was the man who knew all about the mud in the Wackblooks, and side bv side with larger # works, tbe 'reading of the backoloeks was an ''mnerative necessity The «°™ work of the niiMiV hospitals was com. mended, and the hope was expnwri that the Minister for Health j w«W never allow the moment of to i>it*l< to pass out of the hand* of the ""rrtri been said that tfew Zealand was at present on wheels, and thai wS trne TTnfortunatelv it was or TXlXim and not British wheels. Tl ttHS' Ank'that while Wb, nracticallv shut out our butter i heavy Avi&, '•'»» »«"> almost compeßet

to ride about in American can. Be therefore advocated greater preference to British goods. After congratulating Mr Speaker upon bis election, Mr Jones concluded amidst applause. He would, he said, begin his career in the House as ha hoped to continue, by not making long spoeshes. ' The adjournment of the debate was. moved by the Leader of the Opposition, ana the House rose at 9.16 p.m., ti11.2.80 to-morrow.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (pKEsa assocutio* nasosiM.) WELLINGTON, Jane 28. In the Legislative Council to-day leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to Sir Francis Bell. Sir Thomas MaoKenzie, the Hon. Mr Triggs, and the Hon. Dr. Collins, on account of public business; also to the Hon. Mr Mander for six days on account of sickness in his family, and to the Hon. Mr Michel on account of urgent public business. The Hon. Mr Thomson gave notice of the Captive Birds Shooting Prohibition Bill. The Imprest Supply Bill was pot through all stages and passed without discussion, and the Local Authorities Empowering and Belief of Unemployment Bill was passed after brief die* bate (reported elsewhere).