IN THE UPPER HOUSE

Evening Star, Issue 19290, 1 July 1926, Page 9

IN THE UPPER HOUSE

DEBATE CONCLUDED. The Address-in-Reply debate was resumed by the Hon. G. J. Smith, who opposed the idea, of employing Commissions from abroad to investigate dominion problems, and suggested sending away delegations of men already acqxiainted with conditions in the dominion. He condemned tho establishment of an agricultural college as a wicked waste of money, as Lincoln College could he adapted to the purpose and be quite efficient. The Hon. A. Hawke, who also opposed the now college, said he thought the Agricultural Department should employ more instructors to give advice to farmers, and that would serve the needs of the next year or two while the requirements of the country were definitely ascertained. The Hon. H. L. Alichol said the payment of award rates to the unemployed would only encourage unemployment. He criticised the 'Government’s interference by regulation, and said it was having a pernicious effect upon the cost of living and the development of the land. The Hon. R. Scott dealt with irrigation matters, and urged the Government to make full investigations before spending largo sums of money, as watering might he harmful rather than beneficial \o the farmers in certain localities. The Government should do everything possible to discourage tho drift from the country districts to the towns. The Hon. J. Barr, replying to suggestions for assistance of secondary industries, pointed out that the existence of some industries was not warranted, and that our first duty should be to the primary industries. # He would oppose any proposal for giving monetary assistance to large families in poor circumstances, which would be worse than the dole, and he said that the Government could help in other social directions. After the mover of the Address-in-Reply had replied the motion was carried, and the Council adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday next.