ADDRESS IN REPLY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2501, 30 June 1915, Page 5

ADDRESS IN REPLY

DEBATE CONCLUDED WAR THE ONLY,TOPIC AN UNPRECEDENTED OCCASION Mr. C. J. PARR (Eden) moved the Address-in-Reply. The time and the occasion, he held, were unsuited for long speeches; it was a time for deeds, not words. The Speech from the Throne was very much to the point. The whole suggestion of it was that it was our duty to bend all our efforts to one purpose—namely, to end the war in the interests of the Empire. The country would appreciate the intimation from tho Leader of the Opposition to assist towards that end in overy way. Surely if there was ever a time for a truce to party strife that time was today, when the fate of our nation was beintr settled on the ■ battlefields in Flanders, in France, and in Gallipoli. A sinale naval battle in the North Sea might decide whether or not we were to remain a part of the British Empire. Everything was in the balance, and surely it was the occasion' to abandon all inteniccino dispute and party wrangling, and settle 'down to see that retribution should fall on Prussian militarism, and that democracy should rule throughout the world. Because of his feeling 011 the matter he had suggested in Auckland that the strong men of the country- might come together to meet the difficulties they had to face. None of the difficulties in the way were insuperable, and as the result of the statement rnado ill the House that evening, they could have the strongest Ministry in a week or a fortnight. Ho congratulated tho Prime Minister on still having control of the Treasury benches —his was the only party that bad faced the country at this strenuous time and come back to power. He was to be congratulated, and it showed that the country, on the whole, was well satisfied with the Government control of war affairs in New Zealand. As to tho war, we were just 011 the, offensive now, and realised the task before the Empire. He congratulated the Government that New -Zealand had been tho first part of the Empire to capture German territory. There were indications that the storm centres of world politics were moving I'aeificward. He was not one of those who believed that when this war was finished that- wars would end. The wise man was lie that prepared, and even after we had subjugated Prussia we would have to be prepared. He referred in complimentary terms to the part Japan had played in tho Anglo-Japanese treaty, and also to the great assistance given by the Australian Navy in the beginning of the war. He did not wish to discuss the question of whether our gift of a Dreadnought was better than Australia's establishment of a- fleet. Both had been-proved to be right, and discussion of such a subject seemed to bo futile. He expressed admiration for what the Defence Department had done in sending a force abroad. The cry for the dispatch of an extra -20,000 men was vain and unreasonable. He thought, however, that it was time the Government took in hand the organisation of the country to ensure that the right men might go and the right men stay behind. He hoped that when taxation was imposed—as it would be—it would he imposed 011 those best able to bear it. War Taxation. Mr. \V. DOWNIE STEWART (Dunedin West; seconded the motion. He also spoke of war, and especially of the present war, and its probable effects. He believed that the war would have tho, 6ame_ effect as all previous wars—that of bringing into closer -union certain of tho peoples of the world. 111 our own Empire he was sure that it would eventually lead to the establishment of a central Imperial Government, in which the Dominions would have some representation. He discusscd tho imposition of war taxation. All were agreed that war profits ought to be taxed, but the difficulty was as to how to discover those war profits. He certainly thought that no more taxation should be imposed on those who were now hearing as much as they could—the workers in the towns i ■—unless in the last resort. It seemed to him that most of tho' war profits were being made in the country, but a general all-round. increase in land tax Would not meet Ihe ease, and this for several reasons. 'Nor could men on the land bo reached by an income tax. He was going to propound the heresy that a tax ought to be levied on exports, which he believed could be imposed and collected at this time without jeopardy to this C9MI try's trade. He discussed the rise in the cost of living and the possibility of regulating the prices of commodities. This latter problem he considered was one of extreme difficulty, perhaps even impossible of solution. As to the cossation of party warfare, he believed that thero was no middle course between the continuance of party fighting and the complete of parties. If parties were merged in New Zealand he believed that the merging would extend beyond the period of the war. Between the parties in tho Dominion thero were no real differences, and he believed that the merging of the two main parties would load to a proper division of parties in this country 011 differences other than those which were purely personal No Debate From the Opposition. Sill JOSEPH WARD (Awarua) said that he desired to state the attitude of the Opposition with regard to tho Address-in-Reply. At this juncture it did not appe.tr t'hat any advantage would be gained bv their discussing it at all. It was a clear, concise statement in the Governor's Speech that the proposals to be submitted wero chiefly to deal with the war matters. They, as practical people, were anxious to deal with war proposals. If they discussed tho Address-in-Reply for a week it meant loss of time. For that reason only he, on behalf of the Opposition, wished to state that they did not desire to discuns the AddrVss-in-Reply, but 110 wished to compliment the mover and seconder on the carefully-thought-out sneecbes they had delivered. Ho did not want them to run away with the idea tluit he agreed with all their ideas. Stftne of tJieui were too radical —(lauglilf-r)—and Mime so strictly conservative that he could not possibly subscribe to iliein. In all sincerity, for his side of the House, he would say that they enjoyed the speeches of both the members, and he congratulated them. ttiplu Hurt, W- F', M.VSSFV (Prims .Minister) said taut he thorough-

ly agreed with the opinion expressed by the Leader oi the Opposition—in lact, it seemed really wonderful how ollon the Leader ol the Opposition and lie agreed. Me quite endorsed the opinion impressed with regard to the Iwo speeches made. They were particularly able and thoughtful, and he might say two of tile best speeches they had heard in the Mouse from a mover and seconder of the Address-in-Kcply. '| lie real difficulty that night was that their thoughts wore not on local questions, and local politics; their thoughts were lor the time 011 something more important than either of ihoso considerations. In accepting tlio ■statement from the Loader of tile Oilposition that they did not desire to debate the Address-in-Reply, he •issiired him that he knew this was not done through failure or lack of ability to debate it, but simply that they thought it was right. He congratulated them for doing so. The Address-in-Reply was agreed to at 0.10 p.m.

The House rose at 9.12 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-day.