PARLIAMENT Debate On Address May Conclude Next Thursday

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28938, 4 July 1959, Page 14

PARLIAMENT Debate On Address May Conclude Next Thursday

CNsw Zsauuui Pro. Afcoctatton) WELLINGTON, July 3. Twelve Government And 12 Opposition members, excluding the mover and seconder, have so far spoken in the Addregs-m-Reply debate which continiied in the House of Representatives today. Outlining next week’s business, the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said the debate would continue next Tuesday and would be wound up on Thursday afternoon if the Budget was presented on Thursday night. ' \ On Friday next the House is expected tp discuss the reports of the Irrigation and Auckland Harbour Board (Airports Empowering) committees. The House will then adjourn till the following Tuesday night when the Leader of the Opposition . (Mr Holyoake) is expected to open the Budget debate.

During the debate today Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui) said that when the Labour Government increased the price for wheat, it also knew it was going to increase taxation. Therefore, it would take from the wheat farmers a great deal of the potential increased returns. He said the Labour Government’s policy was already producing signs of unemployment Mr M. A. Connolly (Government Riccarton) said the Opposition’s criticism of the Government was “negative, unconstructive and tirelessly political.” The previous Government had created the mess and the people had called on Labour to clean it up. That had been done by placing the needs of the country before party consideration. Mr A. E. Allen (Opposition, Franklin) said the Government had a moral obligation to go to the country and give the people the opportunity to “rectify the mistake they made in 1957 by electing a Socialist Government.” Mrs E. E. McMillan (Government, North Dunedin), discussing land problems, said the development of marginal land was lengthy and costly. The Government hpd promised that finance would be available on a liberal scale to farmers on marginal land. There was a great futGre for secondary development in the South Island.

Mr G. A. Walsh (Opposition, Tauranga) said New Zealand's tourist industry was failing. Some driving force would have to be injected into the industry. Overseas money brought into New Zealand last year was just over £3 million, compared with £3.4 million the previous year. But the tourist trade could not go on losing at the rate of \£400,000 a year. ■

Mr J. G. Edward (Government, Napier), discussing defence matters, said recruitment was progressing satisfactorily.