LIVELY SITTING

Grey River Argus, 23 July 1941, Page 3

LIVELY SITTING

BUDGET DEBATE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Party Obstacle Evident I Per Press Association] PARLIAMENT BLDGS, July 22. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Budget debate was continued by Mr D. W. Coleman (Govt, Gisborne). He strongly criticised the Opposition for its attitude towards the Government. He could not see, he said, how it would be possible to form a National Government when the two sections in the House were so much opposed in principle. The Leader of the Opposition had appealed for national unity. He had said that it would only be brought about by the creation of a National Government. Mr Coleman said he considered that what Mr S. G. Holland was aiming at was a seat in the Cabinet, which formulated the country’s domestic policy. The country, be said, had decided who should be responsible for its domestic legislation, both at the past election, and at the one before that; and it appealed that the Opposition wanted to be included in the Cabinet by a backdoor method. The Labour Party had been elected on a definite policy, and the National Party was elected to oppose it. Mr D. Kidd (Nat, Waitaki) said that the Member for Gisborne had asserted that there could be no National Government because the Labour Party had been returned to office on its very definite policy. Had the Government carried it out? Mr Kidd said he would say they had not. Referring to the Labour Government's apparent determination r to have the general election, Mr Kidd said that the public would understand that the responsibility for the election was that of the Government, and not that of the Opposition, lhe Opposition was urging the people to get together, and to sink their differences, and not to let the noys overseas down. Personally he supported the Leader of the Opposition m his refusal to join the War Cabinet. That was because the Opposition alreadv had two members on that body. Both were doing splendid work. The Leader of the Opposition had gone so far as to offer to include Labour Partyrepresentatives in a National Government if the Opposition were lo be returned at the next general election. QUESTION OF IMPORT PERMITS. Mr Kidd criticised the Government in connection with its handling of primary produce problems. He spoke of the" Canterbury potato crop, ne said he had formed the opinion that there would be no need to impoit potatoes from Australia. In view of this it was a little strange that he had received a circular, from which, it appeared, that one firm of merchants had received a license to import Australian potatoes. The Minister of Marketing, Hon. J. G. Barclay: “No merchant has received any license for the importation of potatoes!” I Mr Kidd: “I am pleased to heai the Minister say that. But does he know a firm called C. Morgan Williams and Sons, of Kaiapoi? Mr Kidd read a letter from that firm in which it was stated that the price or a line of table notatoes which was expected to be available for delivery in August or September, would depend on the amount of import duty Ch Ho g n. Cl 'Mr Barclay: “That does not say that they have a license!” Mr Kidd: “Well they are soliciting orders.” CALL FOR ECONOMIC LEADERS SOON ? Mr J Hodgens (Govt, Palmerston North), referred to the proposal as to form a National Government. He expressed his personal opposition to such a step under the present conditions. After the next election, he said, his personal opinion was that the services of leaders of various sections of the community might be enlisted. “The leaders of our economic life,” he remarked, “might be brought in, and called upon in the name of the country’s wellbeing, to assist in the Cabinet.” Mr S. G. Holland (Opposition Leader): “Would you give them Ministerial rank ?” Mr Hodgens said that he himself was a “back-bencher.” It was, therefore, not for him to suggest whether they should be taken into the Cabinet or not. Mr Plodgens then named several to whom he would not go. Mr Holland (Opposition Leader), asked if he would include the head of the Farmers’ Union (Mr W. W. Mulholland). Mr Hodgens: “If I had my way, the present head of tne Farmers’ Union would be behind prison bars!'' Mr Holland: “That is pretty hot! Mr Hodgens: “That is my considered opinion! The speakers on the Opposition side have spoken about miners sabotaging industry.” Mr Kidd: “So thev cud!” Mr Hodgens: “Could I sav this: That the Member for Tauranga (Mr F. W. Doidge), sabotaged the war effort!’’ Mr F. W. Doidge (Nat, Tauranga): “He’s spurred you into such a war effort as you have never known.” At this stage, the Speaker (Mr Barnard) intervened. He ordered Mr Hodgens to withdraw his remarks. Mr Hodgens: “I shall withdraw as far as the House is concerned.” Mr Holland: "This is a savage attack on the leader of the farmers ot the country.” . Mr Doidge: “And this leader is one of the most loyal men in the country.” Mr Holland: “Yes, and also a member of the War Council. Mr Hodgens continued by stating that the two Parties in the House could never get togetner while the Opposition said that the Labour members were dominated by trades Hall bosses. M r Holland: “Would you be prepared to withdraw the attack on Mr Mulholland?” • Mr Hodgens asked if the Opposition would be prepared to withdraw their attacks on the Trades Hall officials, who had urged tens of thousands of workers to do what the Government required to be done lor the war effort. These Trades Hall officials had come throii"h this war with greater honour than many ol those who had criticised them. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment.

MR HODGENS APOLOGISES. When the House resumed at 7.30, Mr Hoddens resumed his interrupted speech in the Budget debate. Mr Hodgens said that he wished to make personal explanation. In the course of his address during the afternoon, he had made a reference to tne President of the Farmers’ Union. Mr Mulholland. He had said that he would like to see the present leader of the Farmers’ Union behind prison bars. He much regretted his having made that statement, and he desired to extend his regrets and his apologies to Mr Mulholland. It might be that he felt strongly about any cri-

ticism of the Government, he said, but, irrespective of any criticism bv Mr Mulholland, he (Mr Mulholland? had, at the request of the Government, acted as a member of the War council, where he had given valuable assistance to the Government in tne war effort, which he (Mr Hodgens? knew was much appreciated by the Acting-Prime Minister, and by the Government.

Mr Hodgens said he again apologised, and he retracted what he had said wholeheartedly, and he expressed the hope that there would be no illfeeiing between Mr Mulholland and himself.

Air T. H. McCombs (Govt., Lyttelton), referred to the progress that has been made during the last live years of Labour’s regime. He compared that progress with that made under past Governments. He stressed the fact that stoppages of labour had decreased to a marked extent. Especially had there been a reduction in stoppages among the waterfront workers and the coal miners.

NOT MUCH OF TRUCE. The National Party members said Mr McComos, had spoken or a political truce, out ne accused them ot not putting ineir suggestion into etrect. When ne was in Burnham uamp, unaergoing military training, tne ivationai Party s representatives nail gone into ins electorate ana haa addressed tne electors. "Was tnat a political truce?-’ he asked. NO PARTY TRUCE! The question of the Party truce was lereneu io uy iur w. A. Bounin mat., central Otago?. ne tan tnat it mere were any Baity truce, tn.s was tne first that he had nearu oi. it. The Prime minister, light ui tne outset, had rnaae it clear mat me Government intended going r.gnt ahead with its domest.c poncy. He would say tne Opposition nau given the Government one nundiea percent. support in connection With ns wav effort. He said that the Members of the Government had commended tne Minister of Finance lor bunging down a budget that did not propose any additional taxation. Thev were forgetting that tne Minister of Hca.th. Hon. H. A. Nordmeyer, speaking with Ministerial, responsibility, had informed the country that ’the Labour Government had reached the extreme limit of taxation. Mr Nash was the greatest tax gatherer the country had known The budget was one ot spend, spend, spend, and let the future take care of itself. STATE HOUSING PROGRESS. The Minister of Housing, H:u. H. T. Armstrong, said that, houses totalling 11,584 have now' been completed, and are occupied, under the Government’s housing policy. If the number of houses at present under construction were added, the total was 14,263. But there were stdl 21,20 f people on the waiting list The Minister said that steps have been taken to provide for accommodation for large fami les n Christchurch and in other parts of New Zealand. He also stated tbal 1 Government had recently decided to set im a Committee to go into th s I question I Continuing, Mr Armstrong said ' that the Housing Construct’on De- | oartmont had employed ato°'el"er ' 326 different and to-day houses are being built in 129 dirfer-

ent towns. Land for. housing has been bought in 131 towns, and enough land has been purchased to build 23,000 houses. The Department was s’till buying land. A total of £16.252.000. said the M.nister, has been spent bv the Housing Department. A good percentage oi it had been on the purchase of land. The Minister outlined the G.nenment’s no'icy with regard to bu I:.in (lais, and also dweil’ngs to accommodate the larger families. The debate was interrupted by me adjournment at 10.30. when the House rose.