OPPOSITION ATTACK

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 146, 21 June 1923, Page 4

OPPOSITION ATTACK

ON ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

MR. WILFORD'S CRITICISM

MINISTER OF HEALTH DEFENDS

GOVERNMENT.

The Addvess-in-Beply debate was continued in the House of Representatives yesterday, the first speaker of the day being the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford), who formally moved his motion of no-confidence, -ilr. Wilford, at the outset, described tijie speech made of the mover of the \Address-in-Reply as one, of the most condemnatory of the Government he had ever heard in. the House. He woridei'ed how the member who delivered that epeeoh could see eye to eye with a Government which treated the back blocks in: such a way as ha (the mover) had stated. The member for Waitomo had opened the door for the Opposition. The Reform Government had long since ypassed its meridian, and it was generally Recognised now that the Reform Party had outlived its -usefulness. The Prime Minister had stated that Providenoe. .vrtSuld see the country through, but it ■w^b not much satisfaction to have to _depetid solely on Providence. At one time the slogan of the Eeform Party was: "Settlement, more settlement, and still :mpre settlement." Instead of that they ■hajd "aggregation, more aggregation, and still more aggregation." There was ■>not merely a drift to the towns, but a drive. There was no sound policy of land settlement—no progressive policy. iApart from soldier- settlements, the Gov Sernment had done nothing to assist peogple to get on to the land, and the settle . meat policy of the Government had apparently been ■ abandoned. ■ISLOGANS,..HQJJSES, AND WORK. \ '. A. "Government's policy might easily be framed on such slogans as "homes for Uh© .people" and "work for the people." What was tho Government's policy in Regard to housing and unemployment? JJlhe Prime Minister had outlined the housing proposals, which were identical with those proposed by Mr. Theodore, Premier of Queensland. Houses should come before schools, and jbo that extent ho differed from the V>ponion expressed b\' one Minister of the fepown. While many of the people of *She Dominion were not homeless, they "jvere crowded together under deplorable V*>nditions, which were not good for the general health of the people, nor good dcir the foody 1 .politic. It was no use Witting" legislation on the Statute Book, (unless the money was provided, and unless the Prime Minister could show the iHbtsse where the money was to come fisbm the Stete Advances Amendment "ppl ■would to ■useless. Mr. Wilford Idresr attention to. the fact that the funds jof'. tho Stato Advances Department to tha esent of £'i,139,000, had been invest--lod in Government bonds. Had all that money been paid back? There was legislation on the Statute Book now intended to assist people who idquira ihdusesj Trot it was inoperative, because money v/as not available. .. : TRUSTS AND COMBINES. The Leader'of the Opposition contended* that the Government had made no attempt' to seriously tackle the unemployed- problem. A few women wer« put on, to relief work. What did relief work .nj^an? A married man was sent away to :tho Eimutaka. road at 10s -a day, with the addition of 2s a day for his wife and children. Mr. Wilford blamed the operations of trusts and combines, which, he said, were responsible for dear homes and ■ dear .bread. Until the Government decided to deal emphatically with trusts and combines.—not in a dilatory way through the Board of Trade—the conditions in. the Dominion would continue to;;be as •unsatisfactory as they were to3ay. The Reform Government had kilkd the Housing Department. It was merely the foster, parent of the Advances Department, and had never looked kindly upon that Department. He did not believe that the Government's proposals would meet with any great measure of success. ■ The Government's heart would not be in the job. It ■was alLvery'well to place legislation on the Statute Bocik, bub the.Reform Party had skowed~how an Aett could become inoperative.. "..The "Act providing for the reform of the' Legislative Council was a case in point. Reform'had made many promises, but had not kept them. .pectoral reform had to eomo. The Government long ago promised reform, Hu_f..h;id. Hover redeemed the promise. .Minority Government was a danger to ilie country. It was ulso alleged in Hie tourist rpport • -thut every rneourjr'ejueiit was given to tourists'to wmie °to New Zealand. Yqt tourists still suffcr••pj? through (he operation of t.ho Alien Restriction Act. Kveu Americans were railed upon tv report periodically to the P'Jiee. . . • ■ ; ; "FOOLED 'THE PEOPLE." ■'Mr. Wilford next dealt with finance, mid claimed (hut t-hi; Reiorm Party had fooled the people. If. triumphed" the flotation of a loan at -1 per cent. That loan was never raised at 1 per cent. It was floated at 92, and tho interest worked out at. 4.7 per cent. Would the Prime Minister say how much of tho 64,000,000 was brought back to New Soaland? If some of the money was asei for railway construction, what ivould Mr. MasEey say to the fast that '.lisraihvfnt.v, f.-f not raining p/ron Si'i 15s m- rt-rrfv-Mr. Wilford airl thiil, the Prime "linisifT.Ji.id made miu-b of tho y.mmiiit .it;'loan" Wom'y dun JVetwcen now ;ni(l 7!)39. A f.-on.yidHva'Me portion of the sum iv.-ftvuiv^g (,:, iho rV-.t.Oflii-..-. This year sboill, ftt.OIKI.OOO woiil.i |':ill. due. 'W.-IS' if nol-,.-!., f,icl. that -licUvcc-m £5,U00,00(> iiul h!i,m,lMJ was owing lo Hie .Post .Mice? (Ivov £1,000.000 vvus oHim lo Jio PuWty Trust. Olh'co. It would "nnf. I ("> p. very difficult matter to mrike nr 1 i-.v^ewnls wit!, rithrr t-hi* IVt OHio* >.- the Public Trust Department.. STATE BAK.Iv PROPOSAL. The lone delay in tho appointment of the highw a y a Board wag criticised by Mr. Wilf-ord, who alleged that Hie delay h-as due- to a dispute between (ho Minster and tho Counties' Association. Tlie iTinifiter refused to appoint the two genilemen nominated by the association, but in the curl the Minister had to give way Mr. Wilford then dealt with the Liberal--labour Party's proposal, to establish a Stato Bank. The Liberals would take no notice of the argument used against the. State bank by directors of existing banks. A State bank would have just as beneficial effect on banking as the State Insurance Office had on insurance •iiiEiness. Reform stood for and was backed by vested interests, and, therefore, fould not stand in the interests of the wmirioii people. That was why it op■joserl the State bank. The Government low permitted the wealthy to invest i heir savings in local bodies' bonds, and 60 escape "taxation. He proposed to ask the House to repeal that clause in the J"inanco Act. PENSIONS BEYOND PARTY. Mr. Wilford pressed for a, revision of the whole pensions system, including soldiers' pensions, A comprehensive review should be made by a committee representing all sides,, because pensions, jiliovo all other 1 matter?, should be beyond parly... -The, jj^fu^ajjld bg-s&i,d. pi

housing and unemployment, the treatment' of the sick and the insane. Until 8. Government set, out to do its best for those who lacked assistance, it could not expect to gain the confidence of the country. Mr. Wilford then formally moved his no-con fid ence motion. A MINISTER IN BE PLY. . The Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Education) complimented ' the Leader of the Opposition on his "evident vigour and good health." However, he was unable to discover in the speech any serious criticism of the Government—merely a criticism of administration.' Mr. Wilford sang a theme of joy over the end of Hi a Reform Party, but the Reform Party was far from dead, as the figures of the last, election showed; There was no necessity to. worry about the coming demise of Reform. The, Labour Party must have smiled at the sudden enthusiasm of the Liberal Party in regard to the provision of homes for the people. -Probably no party did less than the Liberals in the matter of providing homes for the people. The average number of houses built per year by the Liberals while they . were in power was 28. Reform had done ever so much better than that. The Leader of the. Opposition was also anxious for electoral reform. ■ The Leader of the Opposition: "I merely want you to keep your word." Mr. .Parr said that Mr. Wilford was also a new-born enthusiast for proportional representation. The proposal was j meant to catch votes, but it failed to achieve that purpose. Regarding land settlement, Mr. Wilford admitted that something had been done for the soldiers. Practically all the young men who wanted land were soldiers. The Government had done much for the soldiers. Mr. Atmore: "You spent monoy. That is not settlement." Mr.. Parr said that the land report, which would come down in a few days, would reveal the fact that the Government intended to do a great deal in the way of settling lands in the ordinary way. NEW- ZEALAND'S CREDIT SPLENDID. I ' Mr. Wilford, said the Minister of Education, had not dealt to any great ex- " tent with finance. He might have paid some tribute to the Government for the improvements brought about in two years. The reserve of £2,000,000 which the Government had in London undoubtedly assisted the Government in securing" such splendid terms for- the, last loan. The credit of New Zealand, to-day was splendid, notwithstanding the period of stress through which the Dominion had passed. The Leader ,of the Opposition had not displayed his usual generosity when he failed to acknowledge the successful financial operations of the Government. This year taxation would be reduced by fi^OOO.OOO. High taxes meant a maintenance of the lugh cost of, living, and he could not understand objections to the decreases which Mr. Mas-' sey would propose. ■ .. The Government's housing proposals were enlarged upon by the Minister, who covered much the same ground as that -covered by. the Prime Minister when he explained the State Advances Act Amendment on Tuesday ..-urw The Leader of the Opposition: Whero i will the Prime Minister get the money { ! The Prime Minister: "I have tho ThT Minister of Education said that the Prime Minister had assured Cabinet that he knew where he could raise the money. " Mr. Parr condemned the btate bank proposals of the Liberals, and em-, phasised Sir Joseph Ward's opposition. REFORM AND ELECTORAL REFORM. ! Mr' T X Sidey (Dunedin South) asserted that'the Minister of Education' was misleading when he said the Reform. Party came out of the last General Election with an increased total of votes. ; The fact remained that Reform were defeated, and now depended .upon the votes of men who were not amenaole' to the Government Whips. The Leader, of the Opposition had been referred to as a new-born convert to proportional .representation. What about the present Prime Minister? At one time there was no stronger advocate of proportional representation than Mr. Massey. wj""1 was Mr. Massey's position to-day ?_ I heMinister of Education had dealt slightly with finance, and had referred to the £2,000,000 reserve in London. The Leader of the Opposition had not mentioned that reserve, and the Ministers comment was pointless. : " Mr. Sidey said the Speech contained no reference to electoral reform, although eleven years had gone by and three General Elections had taken place since the promise was made that another' system would be substituted for the second ballot. The defects of the present system had been many • times pointed out. Third candidates could be put up for the express purpose of splitting votes, and while at present the Reform Party held office on a minority vote, the siimi! tiling might :>l. any time take place with respect to .cither oE ", the other parties. The reason why there had been no attempt u.t amending tho system-was because of party . consideration., arid if any alteration was to be brought about by the present Government it would-only be as the result of their loss' of'a' few seats through vote-splitting. During the last Parliament tho Government''voted solid against cither the ■proportional system or the preferential system, but.Jf a change was to be secured,'and'it, ought to be done before the 'session closed, he trusted it would not be a-hybrid"scheme such as that suggested • by' one; of ■ the Ministers—to have a;: preferential" vote fur the. cities and ""first past the ppst " for tho connti'y. ' •■■■■■•: -■- -. The proposal to extend the "benefits of Ihc Advances Department' was a,'tribute to !.h& value of that legislation in which New Zealand had pointed the way to tho Australian States, in spite of strenuous opposition by the present Prime Minister and his party. Mr. Sidoy said he h;ul at various times emphasised tho fact that tho Advances Act appealed to. a. different class .pi person 1., tho Workers' Dwellings Act/which only required :i deposit of £5. The amendment now proposed under which' advances would be made up to 9.5 per' cent. was. iio; doubt intended to largoly supersede . the Workers' Dwellings .scheme,.and enable people to build their own house's' instead of acquiring - homes built by the' Stale. "■" !MR, HOLLAND SPEAKS, The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland (Bullpr) complimented the mover and 'seconder of the Addre£6-m-Reply on their speeches. They had; 1 he added, the remarkable position of honourable members sitting in Opposition, but yet voting for tho Government. In his opinion the day must come when n member would not 1 have two personalities. Should that occur they would, ho thought, find most ; of the Liberals on the Reform benches. It was time tha!t tho Government had failed, and the Labour Party agreed witli the other parties when they claimed each others failure. Tho only progressive party m the House was the Labour Party, and ill was time, as had been said by the Leader of the Opposition, that the Reform Party had passed its meridian. While the Reform Party had passed its meridian/ the Labour Party recognised that tho Liberal Party was a- setting sun (Laughter.) Mr. H. .Masters (Stratford): " The sun rises again." _ • j Mr. Holbnd: -"The honourable, sen-

Bible, or he would have observed thai I there are stars which pas-i; into the blackness of darkness for ever." Tho Government had accepted the Liberal amendment as a no-confidence motion, and the' Labour Party would always vote for any motion which the Government accepted as one of no-confidence. LIBERAL AMENDMENT NEBULOUS. The amendment of the Liberal Party was quite nebulous—and a nebula was a mist that was diffused in space. He found a great deal that was gratifying to the Labour Party ;md himself in the amendment, because it did seem to him that their friends on the Liberal benches were hoving in the direction of conversion. He supposed that the Liberals were in favour of proportional representation and abolition of the Legislative Council. A Reform member-: ':They don't say that." Mr. Holland: "I know, but I want to.induce them to say so." (Laughter.) The Liberal amendment was altogether too vague in its reference to the Imperial Conference, because, while it suggested that the House should have an opportunity of discussing the subjects to fee considered at the Conference, the,, question was when finality on tho discussion should be reached. Figures in the Year Book showed that land aggregation was going on in the Dominion, which was heading towards national, bankruptcy. The Prime Minister: "Not a bit. . . . Pay our way." Mr. Holland: "Pay your .way jliy borrowing some money." The Prime Minister: "What would you do?" Mr. Holland : " It reminds one of the policy of Mr. Micawber, who paid a debt with an lOU and said, 'Thank God, that's paid.' " (Laughter.) Mr. Holland referred to the price of the last New Zealand loan, which prompted the Prime Minister to retort that the terms were better than what Mr. Theodore could have obtained. THE SOLDIER SETTLERS. Mr. A. D. M'Leod (Wairarapa) said that the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Sidey had said nothing which called for an answer. The Government had dealt very largely with the whole of the subjects mentioned in the no-confi-dence- amendment. Mr. Wilford had referred .to aggregation, and Sir. M'Leod would not say that there had been no aggregation during the term of offico of ' the present Government. It was difficult I to distinguish between aggregation and j assistance to settlement. . .Referring" to ! the Liberal proposal ;to establish a State j bank, he said it was absolute twaddle to i say that the. Commonwealth Bank had ; kept down the rate of interest on morwy I lent to primary producers. ' Sir Dennisoi; : Millar made the bank as conservative as possible, and dealt largely in gilt-edged j securities. It was out to-make money. I The , Government could be depended upon to do the right thing for thp j soldier settlers. For various-reasons the Government was bound to lose money. That could not be avoided. He did not think that the Government was going lo inako serious 'losses as far as 'the big estates purchased for the soldiers were concerned. Mr. M'Leod said he understood that the. 1-evaluation uf soldiers' I lands was almost . completed, and the ! people would be pleased' to shake hands with a- Government which had cleared up a big_ problem once and for all. On the question of rural finance, he congratulated the. Prime Minister on his proposals to develop the State Finances Department. He thought that the Government valuations wore conservative enough to justify advances, on the scale, proposed. The proposals would largely meet the demand for rural banks, for which the cotmtry was not ..yet ready. The big landed man should bo" prevented from taking ndvantage of .the' propoen! to ;id vancc £3500. The Leader of the Opposition :" Ho will be waiting on the doorstop." Mr. M'Leod: " Well, he must b R provented by some means of participating in tho scheme." | The House rose at 9.35 p.m., the debate being adjourned on the motion oi Mr. L.'M. Isitt (Chrisfchurch North).-'