"BATTERING RAM"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 83, 7 April 1936, Page 16

"BATTERING RAM"

OPPOSITION OBJECTS

"LUNG PRESSURE DISEASE"

A strong protest against the Government adopting "battering-ram tactics" in rushing the Bill. through the House was voiced by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Nationalist, Waitomo).

''. At the outset, Mr. Broadfoot commented upon the silence of members of the Government, and contrasted the attitude of Labour members today with their attitude when in; Opposition. --"I am afraid the party whips have been cracking, and for the first time in the history of Parliament for fifteen years there ,will be silence," he said. Mr. A. S. Eichards (Government, Roskill): Guessing again. •Mr* Broadfoot: There is a new disease coming to New Zealand. Instead of- blood pressure, there will be lung pressure—they will burst. He contended that the people had been lulled to sleep by the words of the Government, while far-reaching legislation was going through the Chamber. "Success in life is the hardest thing to bear," he remarked, "and from the way they, are pushing this legislation through it looks as though they are flrunk with power. (Laughter.) The tactics adopted by the Government are proof positive of what I say." REDUCED TO ABSURDITY. Mr. Broadfoot contrasted the present tactics with .those adopted by the previous Government over the original Bill, which was introduced on December 8, 1932. The first reading occurred on October 19, 1933, the second reading on October 24, and the third .reading on October 31—nearly eleven months after the Bill had been, circulated, thus giving every section of the community an opportunity of expressing its views. The present Bill was introduced on April 2; the second reading taken on April 3; and the measure was to be passed that night. , ■ > "If that isn't reducing Parliament to an absurdity, then I don't know ■what is," he said. "I can't understand the, reason for the rush tactics," said Mr. Broadfoot. "The Prime Minister says that there is no fear and no nervousness. Then why not trust the people? ■ Why not give them the opportunity of examining the amendment. We gave them the opportunity of examining the main Bill. This Bill might well have been sent to a Select Committee, and the community would then have had more time of examining its provisions. It looks as though the Government have no other measures to bring before the The' Minister of Employment (the' Hon. H. T. Armstrong): You just wait awhile. Mr. Broadfoot: These battering-ram tactics are unwarranted, indecent, and against the best interests of the people. Mr. Speaker called Mr. Broadfoot to order for the use of "indecent," and Mr. Broadfoot withdrew the word, replacing it with "undue haste." Mr. Armstrong: Why not talk about the Bill? Mr Broadfoot: The Minister of Employment^ should get his lungs tested. He must realise that there is a certain amount of dignity with the position he occupies. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE CURTAILED. Mr. Broadfoot contended that the principles enunciated in the Bill would tend to curtail private enterprise. ■He said that a project was under way in Nelson for the supply of electric power, and that outside capital was ready for investment, but the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) had stated that the project must not go forward; the question had to be considered whether the State should not do the work. The BilL he submitted, was the first step- which would

enable all development to be carried out by State enterprise, irrespective of the fact that private enterprise had developed the country. Decisions such as those of the Minister of Public Works would serve to keep capital away. The Minister of Mines desired to nationalise the coalmines, and the Bill was the first step which would enable the Government to carry out such policy measures.

"The powers in the Bill are unlimited," said Mr. Broadfoot. "It is going; to put the Minister of Finance in the position of being: a virtual dictator of this country. We have seen the same methods in Russia, Italy, and Germany, and apparently they are with us today in this country. I think New Zealand will recognise very shortly that in Mr. Nash we have the Stalin of New Zealand.' (Government laughter.) They can laugh, but they have to face up to these facts."

He said that the people would ultimately wake up and find that there was something behind the soft words of the Labour Government.

Mr. Broadfoot criticised the provisions of the Bill which controlled export trade, and said that they meant that the freedom which our forbears fought so hard for was going to be taken away—not' whittled away, but pulled away, and the people would be regimented and regulated -in every way. There would be directions as to how, what, and when goods might be exported, notwithstanding the demand. There was a great deal of nervousness in the country. There was expectation on one hand from those who expected to get something for nothing, and nervousness on the part of those who were afraid they would have to pay.

What, ihe asked, would happen if the Government found itself in the position the previous Government found itself in in 1931, when there was a sudden drop in income inside and outside New Zealand? Would the Government make costs approximate the price, or would -it inflate to cover the situation? The public might well be nervous about that because the Government was to enter into trade in a very big way. The Government might haye substantial losses on -the; butter that it would commandeer, and 'the losses could not stay on overdraft but would haye to.be repaid out of taxa-

Powers had been taken in. the Bill which savoured of a national emergency, and' he contended" that " that was unwarranted. The Bill was the most important measure to come before the House for the last thirty years,; and the people should have had.more time to consider it, and the House might well stay till after Easter so that the country could go more thoroughly into the matter. "The-members of the Government may well laugh, but they are in sufficient a force to do what Cabinet tells them," he said. "It is very unfortunate for them, because they will have a different »story to tell when they go on the hustings again. I want to record my protest on this undue haste. I know that it is useless to occupy the time; of the House, but I will certainly exercise my vote in preventing work of this description."