RECOGNITION OF. SERVICES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 16

RECOGNITION OF. SERVICES

FORMER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ' TRIBUTES PAID IN BOTH HOUSES [From Our Parliamentary Reporter] j WELLINGTON, September 10. j Tributes to the memory of legislators and former legislators who have died during the recess, were paid in the House of Representatives to-day. Resolutions moved by the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) were carried, recording their distinguished and faithful public services, and the sympathy of the House with their relatives. As a mark of respect, the House adjourned until Tuesday afternoon. Reference was made to the memory of the following:—The Hon. G. W. Russell, a former member of the House of Representatives, and for some years a Minister of the Crow*n; Sir Frederic Lang, a former member and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and a former member of the Legislative Council; the Hon. L. M. Isitt, a member of the Legislative Council, and a former member of the House of Representatives; Mr J. McC. Dickson, a former member of the House of Representatives; Mr C. Hall, a former member of the House of Representatives; Dr. W. A. Chappel, a former member of the House of Representatives, who later won a seat in the House of Commons; Mr J. MacGregor, a former member of the Legislative Council. Referring to Mr Russell, the Prime Minister said that Mr Russell was not only a capable Minister but a fluent and telling speaker. He was a forceful character, and one who had made a valuable contribution to the public life of this country. Mr Hamilton said that Mr Russell had had a very creditable career, and it was only right that the House should express its sense of appreciation of the service he had given to New Zealand:* , The Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton), Mr H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson), and the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Opposition, Hurunui) also spoke of Mr Russell's services to the public. The work of Mr 'lsitt in the cause of temperance reform was, referred to by Mr Savage. In his dav and generation, said the Prime Minister, Mr Isitt was a very fluent speaker. He never ran away from an adversary. Mr Hamilton said that fewer people had played a greater part in the public life and the social life than Mr Isitt. Mr Sullivan, Mr Forbes. Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition, Christchurch North), and Mr E. J. Howard (Government, Christchurch South) also referred to the notable career of Mr Isitt. In the Legislative Council, the Leader of the Council (the Hon. Mark Fagan) said Mr MacGregor was connected with Parliament through the Legislative Council only, being a member for 28 years. He was born in Perthshire, Scotland, Mr Fagan said, and was educated at Edinburgh University. He practised law in New Zealand, and his knowledge of legal practice as a barrister and solicitor made him a valuable member of the Council. The Hon. J. A. Hanan said Mr MacGregor possessed many admirable qualities, and although he had rarely taken part in debates during recent years, he was a forceful and capable speaker. He had pioneered law reform in New Zealand, and the measures regarding marriage and divorce laws that he advocated had since been adopted in other parts, of the Empire. that," Mr Nash replied. "It is over 7d. We are giving a higher allowance for labour charged and a higher allowance for working and maintenance. I cannot for the life of me see that the farmers have any cause for complaint. We have not only passed legislation to give the farmer a price for his butter and cheese, but we have also made it possible for him to apply to have his mortgage written down to the productive value of his land based on last year's price. This year's price has been increased, so the farmer who has his mortgage liabilities adjusted is proportionately better off." There was a fair amount of cross talk at the conclusion of the Minister's reply, Mr A. P. O'Shea, secretary of the Farmers' Union, claiming that that union's previous statement, had not suggested a definite allowance lor working and maintenance costs, but had only attempted to show how those costs had increased. Finally, the Hon. F. Waite, M.L.C., who introduced the deputation and read the statement prepared by the Farmers' Union, said it might be possible to arrange a further discussion after the Minister had made available the full figures on which the Government had based its decision regarding i the new season's prices. MINISTER'S STATEMENT ATTACKED "IMMEDIATE POLICY OF SOCIALISM" CPAESS ASSOCIATION TBLIOBAM.) WELLINGTON, September 10. Commenting on yesterday's statement on dairy farm costs by the Minister for Marketing <the Hon. W. Nash), Mr W. J. Poison, National member of Parliament for Stratford, and formerly president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, said: "Mr Nash has left no doubt in anyone's mind to-day regarding the policy of the Government in respect of the dairy farmer. It is an immediate policy of Socialism; £5 10s a week is to be the value of the efficient farmer's reward, from which he must deduct 30s for his house and the farm produce consumed by himself and his family. The farmer is a skilled worker employing capital in addition to his skill and experience. Mr Nash's statement provides nothing for his capital, management, or the hours he works. He is to receive what a worker in industry gets, no more, no less. "Mr Nash justifies the guaranteed price by the publication of some figures which do not agree with either the figures carefully compiled and published by the Farmers' Union or the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd. On what are these figures based? "One is entitled to ask, not for extracts from the report, which may be a majority or a minority report, but for the publication of the whole report or reports without excision. "If the ordinary skilled worker is to receive 2s 9d an hour and a watersider 2s Bd, with no interest in the results of their labour, the farmer working sometimes double the hours, under all weather conditions, without many of the amenities of town life, risking the gamble of the seasons as well as his capital, is entitled to a better deal. What has become of the promise to measure a farmer's work on the same, yardstick as other sections of the community? The worst feature of the new arrangement is that many struggling farmers will give up hope. Why submit to such conditions?"