PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 July 1927, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE ADDKESS-IX-EEPLY

THE MOTION CARRIED. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 13. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Hep lying to the leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said that the report on the Imperial Conference was ready, and would be laid on the table of the House. It would then be decided on which day it would be discussed.

.Resuming the debate on the Ad-dress-in-iieply, Mr. J. Linklater (Manawatu) said the burning question in his electorate was dairy control. His electors had voted largely for it, and were bitterly disappointed that control had failed. This failure, lie said, was due to divided counsels and the intolerable propaganda both here and in the Old Country. True, mistakes had been made that were unavoidable Control, he thought, could still do good work.

Mr. H. M. Campbell (Hawke's Pay) said that no doubt things were not too bright, but better times were in store. The people, must learn to live within their means. Mr. Campbell thought a halt ought to he called in railway construction. A good road would be of more value between Napier and Gisborne than a. railway, and it would be more economical, since the road could be built for £SOOO a mile or little more, as against £25,000 to £30,000 a mile for railway. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) first proceeded to deal with the election pledges of the Reform Party, and bow those pledges had been fulfilled. First there was the matter of sound and prudent finance. He claimed that the country had been very well managed, it was true that there was - a surplus of £587,000. This was not anticipated, and was due to overimportation.

Next there was the question of scientific agricultural education, in which considerable progress had been made. There was now a Scientific Research Board, which had been active since it had been set up. There had been some slight hitch over the agricultural college in the North Island, but he hoped to put before Parliament this session proposals which woidd be acceptable to all parties. The Government had decided on legislation giving effect to land banks, which would be helpful to fanners in arranging loans. Townplanning had been put into effect as an evidence of the Government's goodwill to towns, and the Cities Motor Omnibus Bill was passed last session with the best intention. If that measure was capable of improvement, as the result of experience, the Government would have to consider how those anomalies could he removed.

He had returned from England fully impressed with the necessity of supporting Britain in establishing a naval base at Singapore, but he made no promise in England and did not do anything until he had been able to lay all the facts before his colleagues here. The housing of the people had not been forgotten Over £11,000,000 had been advanced for the repayment of mortgages since 1923. and since 1919 there had been provided £25.000,000 for houses. From 1923 to 1927 State advances for all purposes had reached £24.500,000. Of this £12,500.000 had gone into 16,000 separate loans. The figures spoke for themselves and showed that tlie Government had placed large sums of money at the disposal of the department, but it was no use members calling out for more money on the one hand and demanding more economy on the other.

In conclusion, Mr. Coates deprecated pessimism. Our position was not singular, and there was evidence that things were improving the world over. Air P. Eraser (Wellington Central) said it was becoming a habit with the Government, when troublesome' questions arose, to entrust them to private members and say they took no responsibility. and that the House could do as it liked. So far as dairy control wa« concerned, they were hopeless to save the situation, and only a few nights ago the Minister of Finance was compelled to admit that while he had protested, to tlie hankers against the increase in the hank rate, (they took not the .slightest notice l of him and did iust as they liked. To such futility was the Government reduced! This meant that tlie bankers considered they could run the Government of the coun-t-rv better than the Government themselves. The Government wa.s therefore not the Government, hut the country .was controlled by financial interests. This was little to ho wondered at, since tlie Government gave the bankers a lead by raising the rate of interest charged by the State Advances Office.

So far as dairy control was concerned, lie considered that the Prime Minister, in his speech, had net freed himself I coin complicity in the course of action which had ended disastrously to dairy control. The insincerity of the Government- in the matter of control was shown bv their appointment of Mr S. Patterson as Government representative on the London Committee, when he was opposed to control from the first. The Hon. 0. J. Hawken said the action taken bv the Prime Minister in London was the correct one. Tt was hi® duty to warn the board if there wa s danger. Hd had consulted the hoard about- Mr Patterson’s appointment, and they had agreed. If they had opposed his appointment lie would not have been appointed. He was selected because of his High position in business circles. The board made a mistake in fixing prices, because they did not foresee the extent of the opposition that would arise from those who had been dealing in our butter for years.

Mr H. L. Tap-ley ("Dunedin South! said an impartial consideration of the facts would show that the Government came out of the controversy with, clean hands. He hoped someone would introduce a Pill taking awav from the hoard the powers of compulsion, which had ended in disaster. Mr J. McCombs (Lvttelfon) said the charge against the Prime "Minister was that he associated himself with Mr S. Patterson’s cable to the hoard before he had hoard Mr Grounds’ side of the ease. There was no escape from that position.

Mr J. A. Nnsli (Palmerston) said there was no doubt that dairy control had failed and, worse still, the farmers had been brought down with it. The farmers had ’ost over £2.000.000. and were waking up. Tt was orate evident that tlrev we’-e determined to get rid of control. There was only one thing to do. and that was to take the powers of compulsion from the board. At the conclusion of Air Nash’s speech. M>- H. G. Mason brieflv replied +o the debate. claiming that all the points raised hv the Opposition hind been completely answered by the Government supporters and. a f 10 30 the motion that a respectful roplv be presented to His "Excel lenev the GovernorGeneral was agreed to on the voice®.