PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19668, 11 July 1929, Page 13

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. ADDRKSfI-IN-REPLY DEBATE. {*UM AMOCIATIO* TKAGmAXj "WELLINGTON, July 10. In the Home of Representatives today Mr H. M. Rushworth (Bay of Inlands) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Swamp Drainage Amendment Bill. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr Barnard, said that rates of interest charged on State Advances Department loans were <S\ per cent, and 6$ per cent., and were subject to a rebate of one-half per cent, for prompt payment. These rates were lower than could be obtained elsewhere on similar security. Whea the opportunity came, the question of the revision of these terms would be considered. Mr Tau Henare (Northern Maori) was granted six days' leave of absence on the ground of illness in the family, and Mr W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) was given four days' leave of absence because of illness. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Workers Compensation for Accidents Amendment Bill (Mr E. J. Howard), Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill (Mr W. J. Jordan). The Hon. Mr Cobbe presented the report of the Immigration Department. Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Cobbe, in reply to Mr T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa), both stated that there would be no relaxation in the restrictions against immigration, as the Government realised that any slackening in such a policy would add to 4 he difficulties of the unemployment problem. Debate BectunecL The Address-in-Reply debate was continned by Mr J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn), who criticised the Reform Government's Publie Works policy, which, he said, was extravagant, and had caused the interest bill to mount steadily y«ar by year. Unemployment in his electorate was even worse than had been depicted by the Labour members, and if the Government did not attempt to do something to alleviate the position it deserved to go out of office. However, he believed the Government would take such step 3. South Island Main Trunk. Mr E. F. Healy (Wairan) said he knew the country through which the South Island Main Trunk railway was to be constructed, and in his opinion it was equal to that in North Otago. He alleged that the opposition to the railway was led by the Union Steam Ship Company, and supported by the Reform newspapers. The line should have been bnilt forty years ago. The land waa beautiful limestone country, and did not require a ton of fertiliser. Nearly a million acres, mostly Crown land, would be opened up, enabling a sympathetic Government to settle many families on a good footing. There were no noxious weeds in that section of the country, and it was wonderful clovergrowing land, and produced the best merino wool in New Zealand. The ferry steamers between Wellington and Lyttelton carried a tetal of 210,000 passengers annually, which indicated that there would be a large passenger patronage of the Main Trunk railway. More Information Wanted. Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) said that personally he wished to see a great deal more information on the subject before ho conld support the proposal to expend two millions on South Island railway extension. In his opinion more frequent changes in Government would be in the interests of the State, and it was the fact that the last Government had been in office for sixteen years that was partly responsible for the position that existed to-day of some occupants of the Treasury benches having not yet made their maiden speeches in the House. He asked why we relied so much on money from London when there was plenty of money in the country t He recognised that we would have to borrow in London for conversion purposes, but when we wanted money for expenditure in our own country it should be raised locally when there was so much available. . He suggested the imposition of in-come-tax on large and wealthy landowners as a means of combating land aggregation. There was still a large portion of the war debt outstanding, and those large estates which had been protected during the war should be forced to pay for Buch protection. He disagreed with the proposal to abolish the company tax, which would involve heavy additional taxation on individuals, and would not result in an equitable allocation of taxation. It was the obvious duty of the present Government, he added, to find land for those who wanted it, and unless it did that, it would encounter the same fate as the Reform Party. Eeturning to the subject of railways, he said there was a steady progressive decline in passenger traffic by the railways, which were being run at an increasing loss. The whole railway Bystem should be subjected to a searching examination before millions of the country's money was expended on new lines. He considered the Government justified ia stopping the Tatrpo railway work. He would like, however, to hear something from the Minister for Railways, who had been very silent, but was possibly doing a good deal of investigating. He welcomed the proposal to send trade representatives to Canada and the United States, but regretted that there was not a better trade relationship with Australia. There was room for improvement in that direction. Tne Postmarter-Oetieral. Th« Hon. Mr Donald said that unemployment should occupy the attention of all Parties at the present time. Labour members had previously dealt with the subject, and the United Party was taking the opportunity of the present debate to express its views. His Party stood for providing the greatest assistance possible to those who were unfortunate enough to be unemployed at present. One outstanding cause cf unemployment was immigration, which had been continued too long. Another cause was the fact that during the war many people had discovered that they could find a market for anything they had to sell, and had since then forsaken their ordinary occupations, with the result that former buyers had become sellers. The consequence was that many of that class of the community were now being forced back to their original pursuits, and were finding the process a painful one. He regretted that the Auckland City Council had not yet accepted the £25,000 subsidy offered by the Government. Had it done so, he did not think the position there would have been so serious. He contended that we could not look on the railways as a straight-out in-terest-bearing proposition. If they aided in giving the country millions of wealth, they must be considered worth while. He considered the country that would be opened up by the South Island Main Trunk line, and the passenger traffic that would ensue, would result in its being a paying proposition. He continued that it was plain to everybody that this country needed a land policy- TIM «>*•• Uak •oald not b«

accomplished in a **" mon " ls ' b hoped that before long matters would take a more definite form, and we would sac more and more people settled on the land. . Dealing with finance he said that owing to present circumstances it might be necessary for a man with a large 1 income to pav a heavier tax, and he agreed with Mr Wilkinson that those with substantial properties should be called on to pav a fair amount as insurance on those interests daring the He was not opposed to duties on wheat and flour, but he thought those duties should be only sufficient to enable the industrv to be carried on in New Zealand. Care should be taken that no high protective tariff should be permitted to force up tne cost or living. , Referring to his own Department, he said he hoped to raise money to build several new post offices, and it possible, he would like to see whole districts brought under central telephone systems. . Mr Donald added that a very mucli improved tcl! service __ would be m operation in the near future. Referring to the tourist traffic, he said that as a result of his recent tour he was satisfied that the South Island was as enjovable a place for a holiday as the North, and as tourists undoubtedly brought money to the country, rie hoped that the Department would devote considerable energy to encouraging visitors to both Islands. Candidates* Pledges. In conclusion, he uttered a protest against candidates for Parliament signing pledges on various subjects, and against the practice of numerous organisations in practically demanding such pledges. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) contended that immigration had not affected the unemployment problem, and the Reform Party's policy had certainly shown that New Zealand recognised its obligation to the Motherland. _ He would support a policy of purchasing land at reasonable prices and settling people on it. In recent years there had been a period of deflation in land prices, and had the Beform Government endeavoured then to adopt any active scheme of land settlement, it would have found itself in the position of holding land which was falling in price, and for which there was no demand. The position now was entirely different, and such a policy could well be carried out. With regard to Mr Donald's remarks concerning pledges, "he considered that the public had a right to ask a candidate on the platform for a statement of his stand on various subjects, and wero entitled to a reply. In his opinion a man was just as much pledged by that reply as by any written pledge. A candidate might be unwise to give a written pledge, but he would not go so far as to say the practice was wrong. Mr Harris advocated the safeguarding of industries, asserting that Bri- j tain's position to-day was largely the result of a tendency too stronpjy towards Free Trade. If safeguarding were carried out to such an extent that the men and raw material abundant in the country were absorbed in local industry, then a solution of the unemployment problem would have been •found!! He admitted that the farmer was entitled to a great deal of consideration, but there Were others to be considered, and certain secondary industries in particular should be fostered. He expressed regret that Government had not indicated its intention to undertake the construction of the Auckland harbour bridge, which would have absorbed most of the unerrmloyed in Aucsland. The debate was adjourned on the mo-ion of the Hon. Mr An !■>. TVrrelle, and the House rose at 11.11 p.m.