POLITICAL NOTES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19972, 5 July 1930, Page 16

POLITICAL NOTES

[THE JfBBSS Special Serriee.] WELLINGTON, July 4. Imports from America. Higher duties upon American imports, including motor-cars and films, were suggested in the House of Beprescntatives to-day by Mr J. T. Hogan (Ind., Eangitikei) as a means of assisting to increase revenue. Mr Hogafi said the Dominion could well afford to tax American imports in view, of the attitude of the United States Government towards imports. Last year New Zealand imported £8,000,000 worth of goods from America, sending in return only £4,000,000 worth. Since then the United States had raised its tariff walls even higher. The speaker suggested that if an additional tax of 2d a foot were placed on American films the total increase in revenue to be derived from that source would bo £104,000. The Dominion imported a total of 12,500,000 feet of film a year, and it should provide greater revenue than it did. He also thought that even the workers would not object to paying an extra halfpenny tax on sugar in order to help others in finding employment. He hoped the Government would restrict the importations of motor-cars from America, as he believed this was one source of the present troubles.

"The question is not what Government is in office but what legislation this House is going to have an opportunity of putting on the Statute Book," Mr Hogan Baid. "The present Government is really an elective executive. Members of the other Parties can put the United Party out of office at any time, but it is being kept in office for the sake of the legislation this House hopes will be passed. So long as the United Party can produce legislation acceptable to the House and the people of this country, so long will it remain in office." Wharanui-Parnassus Hallway. His observation from an aeroplane of the proposed route for the missing link in the South Island Main Trunk railway was reported to the House of Bepresentatives to-day by Mr H. G. Dickie (8., Patea). He expressed the opinion that from what he saw of the country it was quite unsuitable for development, and he denounced the scheme e9 a whole. Mr Dickie said he had flown from Blenheim to Christchurch, and he had a good chance of seeing the state of the country between Wharanui and Parnassus. It was easy to foresee the troubles which would be met with in the construction work. In any case he could not see the real value of the line. Leaving Lyttelton by the ferry steamer in the evening it was possible to reach Wellington next morning, but to travel overland to Picton or Nelson and then experience the very jaws of Cook Strait in the crossing was slower and more uncomfortable.

Mr Dickie said the pessimism expressed by certain people throughout the country was unwise and unwarranted. It had done more than anything else to bring about loss of confidence. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central): Have you joined the Good Mornnig Club? Land Settlement. "It is a miserable effort to have spent only about £50,000. out pf the £5,000,000 authorised last year," said Mr W. Lee Martin (Lab., Raglan), in criticising the Government's land settlement and development policy, when, speaking in tho Address-in-Reply debate in the Houbo of Representatives today. When the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, was Minister for Lands, said Mr Martin, he did .not seem to realise what the country wanted. One would have thought Mr Forbes would have had his programme of development ready by the time he asked the House to vote £5,000,000, so that the work could be put in hand immediately the money was. granted, but that was not done, and the new Minister for Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom,' was only now saying that preparations were being made to place settlers on the idle lands of the Dominion. Mr Martin expressed a hope that Mr Hansom would hurry up and do the job which had so long been left undone. The time was also ripe for a forward movement in the Agricultural Department. He understood the term of the Director of Agriculture, Dr. C. J. Reakes, had been extended, and if that was so he did not think it would be possible to make the desired advance. "I have the highest respect for Dr. Reakes as a man, but he has outgrown his usefulness to the Department." A Suggestion. "If we can realise the, meaning and spirit of the prayer with which this House is opened every day we will do something to alter the unemployment problem facing the country," said Mr W. Lee Martin (Lab., Raglan), in concluding his speech in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day. "I am going to suggest that when this debate is concluded Parliament should be adjourned for a week, and that representatives of the Parties should get together to discuss the unemployment position," said Mr Martin. They could call in the captains of industry and all who are likely to be able to help, and then they could submit a scheme to the House in an endeavour to overcome the difficulties. If we can. not sink our Party differences on a 1 question like this there is very little hope for the people of this country" Mr R. McKeen (Lab., Wellington East): You think the Government will rise to. the occasion? Mr Martin: I do not know, but here is the opportunity, and I am willing to help them. 8 The text of the prayer read by Mr Speaker when opening the sittings each day was then read by Mr Martin to give point to his- remarks. ■