ADDRESS-INREPLY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25549, 17 July 1948, Page 2

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

DEBATE CONCLUDES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 16. The Address-iri-Reply debate concluded in the House of Representatives this afternoon, after 38 Government and 35 Opposition speakers had participated. The debate extended through nine sitting days. Mr K. J. Holyoake (Opposition, Pahiatua) said the net result of the last war’s victory was that one form of dictatorship had been changed for another, which made Hitlerism look pretty crude. Since the end of the war three years ago, the map of Europe had been changed by political wars. Russian Communism had doubled its empire in the last three years by the addition of 240,000,000 people. The big question was whether the iron curtain would move further westward, Mr Holyoake said. Not one of the countries had been added by a democratic vote of the people. The key to world peace and prosperity was the United States. The sentiments expressed during the debate by Mr G. H. O. Wilson (Government, Palmerston North) that what America did was for .her own interests, were the same sentiments as those of Moscow. Russia was not a passive dictatorship, and the red tide had swept so far westward and eastward that we must prepare for it. The British Empire would play an increasingly important -part in the world, particularly if New Zealand and other parts of the Commonwealth played their part. New Zealand should have followed the British and American example in regard to military training. Why could not the Government make up its mind on this question? Was it because of past associations and the background of members of the Government that the Prime Minister had been vague on this issue? ■ Mr Holyoake said it was heartbreaking at present that ships should be diverted from New Zealand. It showed the hand of the wrecker, but the Government seemed unable to deal with the situation. The Government should enforce the law without fear or favour. Land for Servicemen

Although some 5000 former servicemen had been settled on the land, another 10,000 were awaiting an opportunity to take up a farm with rehabilitation assistance, and at the present rate of progress it would be a lifetime before all applicants received property, said Mr E. B. K. Gordon (Opposition, Rangitikei), who resumed the debate.

Mr Gordon said there hgd been too many instances of farmers whose land was being taken over by the Government for rehabilitation purposes having to wait far too long before they received payment. It was wrong for the Government to acquire land and then do nothing with it for 12 months or more.

Mr Gordon said he also knew of instances where farmers wished to assist their sons to tak§ up a farm, but adequate finance had been refused by the banks, apparently on the instruction. of the Reserve Bank.

The Minister of Education (Mr T. H. McCombs) said that where farmers accepted the price fixed by ,the Land Sales Committee for farm property, payment was prompt, but where farmers contested the price there was inevitably some delay until the Land Sales Court settled the matter. Mr McCombs said that Opposition members had attempted to establish a close relationship between the Labour and Communist parties. It was equally logical to say that before the war the parties in British countries which ssw eye to eye with Fascist dictators were the Conservative parties. There had been close links between the British Conservatives and, the British Fascists. It was a National party in India which had assassinated Gandhi, and a National party in South Africa which sought to place the country outside the British Empire.

An Opposition voice: Schoolboy logic. Mr McCombs: It is the same schoolboy logic which says the Labour Party is closely related to the Communist Party. It was no wonder the Nationalists had felt bound to assert their loyalty during the present debate. It was a matter of historical fact that Communist candidates had always opposed Labour candidates. In Christchurch in 1931, a Communist candidate had his expenses paid by the Reform Party, and on four occasions in Lyttelton the expenses of dissident Labour candidates were paid by Conservatives. Nationalists, in any attempt to defeat the Labour Party would use Communists whom they professed to hate. Unoccupied Maori Land

Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition. Waitomo) said that vacant land had created many grave problems, one of which involved unoccupied Maori land. It was incorrect to say there was insufficient land left for the Maori people. Mr Broadfoot said that a survey had indicated that perhaps fewer than 25 pfer cent, of Maori males would go on with farming at present. He considered the only way to eliminate such problems as the growth of noxious weeds, and upaid rates was to open land for settlement. The Maori Minister representing the Maori race had been a major failure in getting Maori land settled, and was only interested in social security. He suggested that returned servicemen ought to be given an opportunity of breaking in virgin lands. Mr W. Freer (Government, Mount Albert), replying, said the debate had raised few new issues. The Opposition’s fear of Communism, he said, stemmed from the knowledge that in event of their party coming into office conditions of discontent were likely to result, and in those conditions Communism prospered. Mr Freer said he- had none of the doubts which some Opposition members appeared to entertain as to the calibre of New Zealand youth today. Young people well knew that under ..the present Government they enjoyed greater freedom than would otherwise be theirs.

Before the House adjourned at 4.3 p.m. until Tuesday, the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) said that some intimation might be given next week of a likely date for the introduction of the Budget. He had not yet discussed the matter with the Minister of Finance (Mr W. Nash). Reports of committees would be discussed on Tuesday afternoon and the Tuberculosis Bill on Tuesday night.