PARLIAMENT OPENS

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT OPENS

NO-CONFIDENCE LABOUR’S AMENDMENT To Address-in-Reply (Special to “Argus.”) WELLINGTON, September 22. With the traditional pomp and circumstance, the second session of the twenty-fourth Parliament of New Zea land was opened to-day. and after the ceremonial proceedings, there were brief sittings of both Houses. As usual, the Ministers were bombarded with questions covering a wide range, of topics, but nothing of any significance was divulged in replies. The principal feature of the day’s sitting was a No-Confidence Amend mvnt to the Addrcss-in-Reply from the Opposition benches, and it is likely that some days will elapse before a division take s place. The new member for the Southern Maori, Mr E. T. Tirikatene, was present. but he was not swor n in. It is staled that Mr Tirikatene will co operate with the Labour Party during the coming session, SPEECH FROM THRONE Finance and Trade LAND SETTLEMENT. (Per Favour Of Government). WELLINGTON. September 22. Parliann nt re-assembled today with customary ceremony. The speech from the Throne by the GovernorGeneral (Lord BLdisloc) was as follows:— Honourable G< .atlemen of the Legislative Council an<] Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:— The financial and economic position of the Dominion having rendered nee essary a special session of Parliament, which concluded in May last you have been summoned to meet again for the normal session on a date later this year than is customary. During the recess, I have taken the opportunity to visit various parts of the Dominion, and to meet their inhabitants, belonging to all classes and occupations. I desire to express my keen appreciation of the cordial welcome which they have everywhere extended to me as His Majesty’s representative, and of the courageous and resourceful spit it. with which they are facing the present economic crisis.

My Ministers have consistently held the view that an increase in interEmpire trade must be of benefit to the , peoples of the British Commonwealth, and accordingly, they welcomed the convening of the Imperial Economic Conference, which met recently at Ottawa. At this conference the Dominion was represented by the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, and the Hon. W. Downiq Stewart, and the results of its deliberations have been a matter of much satisfaction to the Govern ment. Details of the agreements entered into at Ottawa will be laid before you for your consideration.

I have boon happy to note indications that the depression from which New Zealand in common with the whole world, has been suffering, is becoming less severe, and it is p'ossiblc to hope for a return to prosperity at no distant date. At the same time, the Government are convinced that the existing economic disturbance can be only by international action, directed to the abolition of the numerous financial restrictions at present hampering world trade. My Ministers havQ, therefore, attached the utmost importance to the recent Conference at Lausanne, and they have followed its deliberations with deep interest, calculated to enhance confidence and promote commercial inter course Complete success, in their opinion, must depend upon international co-operation, and my Ministers hope that a substantial measure of progi ess will be achieved by this World Economic Conference, which is now contemplated. My Ministers have continued their whole-hearted support of th? League of Nations, and of the principles of permanent world peace, which it is its object to promote. They have been represented by their High Commissioner at the Disarmament Conference, which has been sitting at Geneva, during the current year, and it is their earnest hope that, when the Conference re-assembles. it will be able to effect a material reduction in international armaments.

Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:— Owing larg-ly to the prices of primary pro ducts in the world’s markets con. tinning to fall during the past financial yeai. the disorganisation of our

economic life has been accentuated to such an extent that the Government felt it necessary to submit drastic proposals to meet th? situation. More adequate provision to relieve unemployment was found to be essential, despit the fact that the cost of providing this reHef increased the heavy burdens already pressing upon the people. So extensive a fall in prices altered all previous standards of values, and its suddenness and rapidity caused many borrowers serious

embarrassment. The legislation pass ed during your special session to enable them to maintain production, and in order to spread the financial burden as equitably as possible over al 1 sections of the community, has affordod considerable relief. The stagnation in trade and industry was inevit ably reflected in the public finances, and notwithstanding additional taxation, reductions in salaries and wages, and other economies, the •efforts of my Ministers to balance the Budget were unsuccessful, and the financial

year closed with a deficit of £2140/ 000. It is gratifying to note, however, that this amount is more than offset by reserves accumulated in more prosperous times. The National Expenditure Commission, which was appoint ed to assist in effecting further economies in State expenditure, consequent upon the reduced revenue, has now submitted its final report. Many of its recommendations have already been carried out, and legislation will be submitted to give Affect to others, the adoption pf which is considered desirable. In sp'ite of the prevalent adverse conditions, a loan of £5,000,000 was successfully floated in London in April. Of this amount', £4,000,000 was allocated to the redemption of shortterm loans, and the remainder to i public works. My Ministers are of opinion that the Conference at Lausanne and Ottawa, together with the I large conversion loan successfully negotiated in Groat Britain, have inspired a healthy and promising return of confidence. Improved trade conditions will result in better prices for the Dominion’s products in external markets, and the national income, thus augmented. will benefit all | classes of our people. Renewed aetiv ity in business will aid materially in accelerating economic equilibrium, and niv Ministers are anxious to diseourag" enterprise by imposing upon the community any further burden. AHhough, the budgetary position still demands anxious consideration, l every effort is being made, to avoid ! the necessity for any increase in taxation during the current financial year. As a measure of relief, my Ministers recently decided to restore the system of penny postage. Honourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: In common with other sections of the farm ing community, Crown settlers have been adversely affected by economic conditions, and in many cases if has been necessary to grant liberal concessions, in order to ensure the continued occupation of their holdings. It is gratifying to learn from my Ministers that the work of developing areas of unimproved Crown land is progressing satisfactorily, and that the sub-divisions already selected give promise of successful occupation. It has been found necessary, however, largely io suspend the purchase of es fates for the purp’ose of closer settlement, but -every effort is being made to meet the demand for small dairy farms, by rendering available for selection suitable areas of Crown lands, and by applying the provisions of the legislation of last session, und'r which substantial advances may be made to prospective settlers of freehold property. The development of native lands is being pursued with energy, and with due regard to the requirements of th? various Maori communi ties concerned. The number of schemes in operation at the end of last year was 41. On many of these sub-division has been carried out, and farm units established, particular attention being directed to dairying. The provision of work on Native lands for unemployed Maoris has been of material assistance in affording them muchneeded relief, and in reducing the expenditure of unemployment funds. The assistance rendered under the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Act, 1931. to those who suffered loss as a result of the catastrophe of last year, has been of great benefit to this area. The Re habitation Committee, which was set up to consider applications for relief, has completed its difficult task, and the progress already made in the restoration of the district affords ample proof that its work has been well done. A Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to companies will be submitted for your consideration, to bring tho law of New Zealand into harmony with company law in England, hut modified so as to me°t local require meats. These amendments are deemed necessary in ordy to giv- x ••ffert to tho recommendations of the Advisory Committee app>>iite.l for Hie pr.r

pose in 1930. Bills will be laid before you relating to the rating of urban farm lands, and to safety in building construction, for the amendment of the law concerning Customs, banking, superannuation, native lands, hospitals and charitable institutions, remedies for live stock diseases, the poultry industry. and weights and measures, and for the consolidation of the Municipal Corporations Act and its amendments.

I trust that, with God’s blessing, your deliberations may promote the welfare and prosperity of the Dominion and its people.

COALITION POLICY

Evil Effects on Country LABOUR’S INDICTMENT. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, Sep'. 22. In the House this afternoon, the Leader of the Opposition. Mr 11. E. Holland, gave notice of his intention to move the following addition to the Address-in-Reply motion:— “Tn conclusion, we deem it our duty to reprosent to Your Excellency that Your Excel’ency’s advisers do nof possess the confidence of this House because: (1) “They have made the financial and industrial depression worse by their policy of deflation and of reducing wages and salaries. (2) “They have failed to utilise’ the credit resources and the currency facilities of the State to re-establish prosperity by restoring and increasing the purchasing power of the people as a whole. (3) “They have failed hopelessly to grapple effectively with the unemployment situation, and have made the living and the working conditions of the unemployed progressively worse. (4) “They precipitated, and accentu. tiled, the marked and deplorable decline in prices, equity, and purchasing power, and. -even when the evil results of I deflation, were only too evident, they

have failed to do anything to arrest that decline.

(5) “They have failed to give consideration to the proposals for dealing with the present financial position advanced from time to time by the Labour Party and by others, including that for a State Central Bank, with the complete control of banking, cur reiic;- and credit.” Labour Party Caucus WILL FIGHT EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON, September 22. The Labour Party Caucus, this morning, passed resolutions of sympathy -with the widow of Hon. E. FL C arke, M.L.C., with Mr A. F. Hawke in the loss of his wife, Mr Clinkard in the loss of his wife, and Sir Charles Statham in the loss of his mother. The Caucus also passed a resolution congratulating z th e; Christchurch City Council on its capable and efficient administration, especially with regard to the maintenance of the wage standard and working conditions for employees. The new member for Southern Maori Mr Tirikatere, was not present. The Caucus decided that, the Party should move a no-confidence amendment to the Address-in-Reply motion. When Mr M. E. Holland, M.P., arrived at Wellington from thp South inland, yesterday, his attention was drawn to a statement made by the Prime Minister, to the effect that ‘ ‘ even from the ranks of th el Labour Party there is not likely to be any serious opposition,” to the proposal to extend the lif ei of Parliament, permanently to four years. Mr Holland sale the Prime Minister’s statement was wholly misleading. The Labour Party would exhaust the forms of the House in fighting any proposal to alter the present lerm from three years to four years.