THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22201, 18 September 1937, Page 16

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

DEBATE ON ADDRESS-IN-REPLY HEFEREXCES TO COMMUNISM LFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 17. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m., continuing the Address-in-Reply debate. The Hon. B. Martin- said that a previous speaker had said that New Zealanders had political and religious freedom, and that was true, but what was better was that now they had economic security. It had been said that the Government had not created any new wealth, but it had done so, insofar as it had provided goods and services. The Government's policy had led to more money reaching more people, and increased spending power had led to the production of more real wealth. The Government was blamed for not solving the unemployment problem, but he had never heard a member of the Government claim that the unemployment problem could be solved. The Government, had tackled the problem, but unemployment would remain while the present economic system led to machines displacing men. The Hon. C. J. Carrington said that Mr Martin had spoken like a member of another place, or like a candidate on the hustings. He did not wish to enter into a party dispute, but there were some things being done that would have consequences, and it would be wrong to disregard those things. The people were being regimented, dragooned, and brought under the control of a bureaucratic Government, initiative was being destroyed, and the people were having their independence sapped until they were open to any political stunt or mass suggestion. Mr Martin had said the economic security was of more value than political and religious liberty, but that was not the case. Before the Government had gone much further Communism would appear in the open, and Communism and Fascism were the greatest menaces to democracy to-day. To meet that menace the people should be encouraged to think and act for themselves, instead of being forced to allow others to think for them. The Government's housing scheme showed that the Government was moving towards Socialism. Big combines were being encouraged because it would be easier to socialise one big concern than 1000 small ones, Mr Carrington added. _ The Hon. Rangi Mawhere said he was glad as a Maori member of the Council to express the loyalty of the Maoris to the King and Queen. He praised the Government for helping the Maoris with housing and the development of land, and he paid tributes to the Minister for Health and Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) for the work he had done. There was still more to do, he said. The death rate of the Maoris was too high, and if Maori girls could be trained in nursing they would help to improve the health of their people. The Council adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until Wednesday.