PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 30 September 1933, Page 6

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE OPINIONS ON HIGH EXCHANGE. NEW ZEALAND ACTION FORCED. VIEW OF PATE'A MEMBER. (By Xelfgmpb —Cress Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. The Address-in-Reply debate was continued when the House of Representatives resumed at 2.39 p.m. Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn) said that the Government Party knew it was wrong and beaten. It was living in the past. Referring to the exchange position, he said that nobody objected to a high rate that was real, but everyone objected to one that was artificial.

The Hon. C. E. Macmillan disputed the contention that the high exchangehad brought no more money into New Zealand. The Government had set out to assist the section of the community which most required assistance, and had succeeded in doing so. Continuing, the Minister said there was a great deal of talk about starving in the midst of plenty, but the figures showed that people in New Zealand wore consuming just as much as they had done 10 years ago. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon; asked whether the Minister of Agriculture was so isolated in his office that he was unaware -of what was happening in the country. The Minister had set out to show that there was no -starvation and want in the Dominion. Mr. Sullivan quoted from. reports of an interview with the Minister of Employment -by the Southland Housewives’ Union, in which complaints had been made of serious privation.

Mr. H - G. Dickie (Coalition, Patea), expressed the opinion that the statesmen in Britain had made a mistake in not imposing retaliatory measures against Australia when the Commonwealth raised the exchange rate. Now Zealand had been forced to do likewise to obviate unfair competition from Australia. He considered that it would be unwise for New Zealand to take the exchange rate off in one action. If it were taken off it should be done gradually. BONUS SYSTEM PREFERABLE. Mr. Dickie said he would rather see a bonus system, as under a bonus system it would Have been possible to discriminate between produce that was bringing a fair price -and produce that was bringing a poor price. Mr Dickie said there were anomalies at present in the land valuation legislation, and he considered the Government should place the position on a more equitable basis. Under the present Act a landholder could demand a| revaluation on payment of a fee, and those who had followed this course had obtained reductions varying .from 25 to 30 per cent. These reductions were being obtained by the wealthier people, as they were the only ones who could afford the fee. and the result was that the poorer landholders had to pay increased-’ rates to make up for the reductions which had been granted to those who were more fortunately situated. It would be more equitable for the Government- to reduce the valuations on a pro- rata basis and thus bring relief all round. The same principle could be applied to land taxation. Mr. D. M. Coleman (Labour, Gisborne) said it was a pitiful state of affairs that people should be driven to charitable aid for assistance. It was a poor prospect for the country when boys were growing up to be relief workers. The debate was interrupted by the rising of the House at 5.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS.

MEMBERS GIVE NOTICE

WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. In the House of Representatives today Mr F. Jones (Labour, Dunedin South), gave notice to aslc the Post-master-General whether he would state the reasons for the Government’s actions in purchasing the two B class stations- IZR and 2ZW. He also, asked for a return giving the amount paid for each station, the terms of the agreements, and the wages- and salaries paid. Mr. D. W. Coleman (Labour, Gisborne), gave notice to ask the Minister -of Employment the amount paid to freezing companies, undei. the No. 10 scheme for the purpose of renovating or enlarging their premises and the names of the companies involved. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland), gave notice t-o introduce the Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill.

Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) gave notice to ask the Minister of Defence whether (1) the new scale of pay for N.0.0.’s of the Defence Department constituted a further reduction in pay for those about to marry and those who- had -married since April 1 last. (2) Whether the new scale did not amount to an additional cut not imposed upon any other section of the Public Service; and was a contradiction of assurances given by the heads of the Government. (3) Whether the reduced scale of pay was intended to be permanent. The Minister of Finance (the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates) Iras been asked by Air. A. J. 'Stallworthy (Independent, Eden), to inform' Parliament whether or not he has entered into a definite arrangement with stock and station agents or any other financial institution or other organisation not to remove the present artificially high rate of exchange until the close of the current season, at least not until after June 30.