PARLIAMENT HOUSE CONCLUDES ADDRESS-INREPLY DEBATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1946, Page 9

PARLIAMENT HOUSE CONCLUDES ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE

Government and its Critics Primary Production Issue (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 18. The Address-in-Reply debate faded out in the House of Representatives this afternoon after three more speeches, including that of Mr. J. Thorn (Govt., Thames) in reply. Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Oppn, Marsden) said that the Governor-Gen-eral’s speech had consisted of 416 lines of nothing but words, words and words. It was a pity that the Government had handed the Gover-nor-General such a budget of words, which gave no indication of the Government’s intentions for this session. Mr. Thorn replying said the Opposition members had quite failed to reply seriously to the statements and arguments of Government speakers. Mr. E. B. Gordon (Oppn., Rangitikei) on the previous night had tried to make it appear that the Government had ruined the primary producers who, he claimed were operating on 1946 costs, but receiving only 1938 prices. That allegation was quite incorrect declared Mr. Thorn. In 1943, the Government appointed the Dairy Industries Cost Adjustment Committee, which was given the task of determining how best to take costs back to the 1938-39 level. The committee included three of the leading representatives of the dairy industry, and it was reported unanimously that its recommendations, if given effect to, would provide a complete settlement of dairy industry costs. Mr. Thorn said the Opposition had alleged that the Government had confiscated the United Kingdom Government's bulk payments to the farmers of New Zealand. That allegation was utterly without foundation on fact and had been repudiated publicly by the leaders of the primary producers. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to the second reading of the New Zealand Geographic Board Bill.

GEOGRAPHIC BOARD BILL PASSED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 18. An Opposition suggestion that the New Zealand Geographic Board should include a representative of the New Zealand Geographic Society was supported by several Government members in the House of Representatives to-day, and the bill was amended accordingly. It was pointed out that it was the intention of the Government to retain the services of members of the present honorary board, which includes members of the society, but it was felt that the society was entitled to representation as 01. right. The board will now consist of the Surveyor-General, two representatives of the Maori race, one person nominated by the Federated Mountain Clubs, one person nominated by the society, and two persons nominated by the Minister of Lands. The bill, as amended, was passed. conscription" for forces URGED

(PA.) WELLINGTON, July 18. Conscription for military service in order that New Zealand might carry out- her obligations)! in the P°st-war world was urged by Sir William Perry in the Legislative Council tins afternoon during the Address-in-Reply debate. He said all the nations of the world appeared to be agreed that armed forces were required to keep peace in the future, and New Zealand had certain obligations to provide her share ol these foices. It was obvious that Australia would become the arsenal 01. the south Pacific, said Sir William Perry. New Zealand would be required to provide as much as she could in that direction, and both countries would be required to produce huge quantities of food. It was not much use providing weapons of war unless there were,trained men to use them. Compulsion was the only effective and fair way of obtaining the necessary personnel. About the time of Dunkirk the then Government' of New Zealand a Labour Government —did a very splendid thing for the country, lor the, Empire, and for the world when it jettisoned the principles it had held for many years against conscription. and. did the right thing by introducing compulsory universal national service. Conscription in peace time was as in war. ~ Mr. W. H. Mclntyre, supporting Sir William Perry, said he was one who congratulated the Government on doing something abhorrent to them, something they had preached against all their public life—conscription.

SITTING HOURS OF HOUSE REARRANGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 18. An. announcement that the House would meet at 2.30 p.m. on Monday, and that alternate long and short sitting weeks would be observed until transport facilities enabled a resumption of normal Parliamental y hours was made by the Prime M* n “ ister (Mr Fraser)in the House of Representatives last night.