Two Members Make Maiden Speeches : Address-in-Reply

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 July 1950, Page 8

Two Members Make Maiden Speeches : Address-in-Reply

WELLINGTON, July 4 (P.A.).— The opening of the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives tonight was marked by a return to tradition, the mover, Mr W. B. Tennent (Government, Palmerston North), and the seconder, Mr T. L. Hayman (Government, Oamaru), wearing evening dress. Mr Tennent said that under the guidance of the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) the National Government would make a great contribution to the welfare of the country. He hoped that nothing would prevent a Royal visit in 1952. The extension of the Governor-General’s term would be welcomed. There would be a sharp division ,of opinion on contentious issues which were to come forwardfor debate, said Mr Tennent, but in the General Election the verdict had gone against Socialism, which had been superseded by a Government which believed in private enterprise. Mr Tennent said he believed it was the Labour Party’s methods of putting its ideals ihto practice which were responsible for its election defeat.

Government Policy The National Government believed that national prosperity and greatness had been built up under a system of free enterprise. It aimed to restore confidence in the £ and to avert the threat of., further nationalisation of industry. . “We believe in emphasis on quality in industrial processes and in quality of individual citizens, and it is our intention to develop such qualities to the full, which can only be done in a free society,’ said Mr Tennent. Mr Tennent said that Socialism had dissipated the country’s substance, and through inflation the working man had been deprived of a proportion of the fruits of his labour. The National Government’s difficult

task’ would be to straighten up the finances of the country, and unless that was done the complete fulfilment of its pledges could not be realThere were today between 22,000 and 30,000 vacancies in industry, and immigration must be stimulated on the lines of Australia’s inspiring example. Immigration was essential not only for security reasons, but economically. It would help to build the labour force and restore purchasing power to an inflated currency. There could be no real argument against immigration today. “We must fill this country or lose it,” said Mr Tennent.

Teaching Methods Mr Tennent said the present-day teaching methods' were an advance ot those of former years in the encouragement of character development. Teachers were doing a good job in competition with the radio, comics, movies, and cheap magazines. Mr Tennent emphasised that a religious background to education was necessary, and hoped that the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) would consider providing an opportunity for religious education specialists to contribute to the work of New Zealand schools.

Mr Hayman said he would like to place on record the fact that Mr A. H. Nordmeyer “gave marvellous personal service” to the Oamaru electorate, and that he would follow his predecessor’s example. He said that the world was sick of wars and this country was sick of strife. One of the failures of Socialism was that it was built on a foundation of class jealousy, class distinction, sometimes class hatred, and certainly on class distrust. “We must turn from mistrust if we are to save our system and our way of life,“ he said. “We must move together to close the gaps in our society. We need in this country and in this Government the help and good will of all.’ Increased Production

“To maintain the standards we have we will have to increase our productive effort, and ways and means will have to be devised to produce to a greater degree and to do that cheerfully,” he said. _ He understood that the unions did not agree with the. incentive payment system, but the Government wanted sound unionism to continue, and there was no suggestion that any introduction of the incentive payment system would be designed to undermine unionism.

He considered that the previous Government failed because of abused democracy. No other Government had set off with such possibilities, but the people who defeated it were those who leaned on it so heavily and brought it crashing to the ground. Honest workers’ morale had been undermined when so many got away with doing so little. The House adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. tomorrow.

Mr Bishop As Speaker Of Legislative Council WELLINGTON, July 4 (P.A.).—Mr T. O. Bishop was elected, after a ballot this afternoon, as Speaker of the Legislative Council. The other nominee remaining in the ballot was Mr David Wilson, who was Leader of the. Council for several years.