PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE

MR HAWKEN TAKES A HAND,

(by TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 7.

The House of Representatives met at 2.H0 p.m., and after the transaction of formal business the debate on the Address-in-Replv was resumed. Mr O. Hawken (Egmont said the Labour Party had brought down an amendment affirming that the House had no confidence in the Government, but they had so far produced no arguments to justify that affirmation. They had indulged in personalities and witticisms. These were not arguments, and if they had nothing better to hurl at a Government and members of the Reform Party their case was indeed weak. As a matter of fact, the Government’s record was a good one. Much had been said about housing, but the fact was that the housing problem was not nearly so acute as it had been for years past. The Government had gone to the utmost limits of its finance, and with its limited opportunities its record was a wonderful one. They had been told that they should not have reduced the income tax, but a high income tax made for unemployment. There was less unemployment in New Zealand than in any other part of the world. The Government had spent freely to bring our educational requirements up-to-date. In railway matters much had been done to overtake the leeway made during the war period, and if Mr Coates remained, at their head for a few years our railways would become a credit to the Dominion. The Government had been blamed for not lending fast enough to settlers, but Government finance was often as uncertain as the finance of any other person or body. But their cautious policy had been highly beneficial to the Dominion, as it had forced people who were able to get money outside the State to do so and so relieved the pressure on the State funds.

After several other members had spoken the debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 10.50 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.