ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 September 1935, Page 6

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

DO ALL UNEMPLOYED DESIRE WORK? MR LINKLATER WANTS ALL POWER SUPPLY NATIONALISED. (By Telegraph —tress Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Address-in-Reply debate was continued in the House this afternoon by Mr W. A. Veiteh (Wangamii), who opposed the high exchange which, he said, had done considerable damage to New Zealand's secondary industries and gave a big advantage to Australian manufacturers. He criticised Labour's proposal to inflate the currency which would adversely affect secondary industries and also the wages of workers. lie urged a reduction in taxation, especially the sales tax, which was a drag on industry. Universal Superannuation Mr H. G. R. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) asked why Mr Veiteh was so dissatisfied with the Government when he supported it in its drastic measures such as cutting wages and pensions during the depression. He denied the statement made that Labour could not progress with its policy without overseas agreements. It would certainly be its aim to reach agreements with overseas countries, but domestic trade and domestic conditions must be first considered. They could then go overseas and try to increase the standard of living. It was not necessary that overseas conditions should determine New Zealand's standard of living. He alleged that Hon. S. G. Smith's statements regarding the Auckland clergy had caused the greatest indignation in Auckland. Explaining Labour's monetary policy, he said the aim was to bridge the gap between production and consumption, and the guaranteed price was an element in that policy; but there were even more important elements. The most important in his view was that of universal .superannuation. He said there was no reason wliy people in their old age should have a lower standard of living than they enjoyed earlier in life. The old ideas of thrift had broken down. Labour believed it had the sympathy of all classes in saying the fear of old age should come to an end. Work-Shy Unemployed. Mr. A. Stuart (Rangitikei) said lie endorsed the remark made by the mover of the debate that there were a number of unemployed who did not want work. He would be sorry to see a superannuation scheme started for members of Parliament and would always oppose any such proposal. He admitted that many men had neglected their businesses in entering Parliament but he said many men had come into the House because they could not run a business and many more had. tried to get in. He did not agree with Mr. C. A. Wilkinson that the Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act did not go tar enough. He thought it went a little too far. He said there were many men I on farms to-day who would not have been there if it had not been for the legislation passed in recent years. He contended if men to-day could not make a success on their farms they should get off the land and make room for someone who could. Despite the statements regarding unemployment the farmer to-day had never been'worse oilregarding the obtaining of suitable labour. That Blanket Again. Mr. Stuart referred to the blanket produced in the House the other night by Mr. Semple and said he did not know whether the member had stolen it or not". He was at once called to order by the .Speaker. Mr. .Semple raised a point of ordcl and Mr. Stuart was asked to withdraw the remark, which he did. Mv. Stuart continued to refer to unemployment and said the country had to stop spoonfeeding the unemployed. Maori and Pakeha. Mr. E. T. Tirikatene drew attention to the differentiation between the treatment accorded Maori and European unemployed evc.-i Uiougli the Maori paid the same unemployment tax and the same levy as the European. He hop'jd the Maori relief wo.-Ruin would receive the consideration to nnicn they were entitled. He thanked the Minister tor the assurance that legislation would be brought down regarding the housing of the Maori people. Hon. S. G. Smith interjected: 11' the Maori were living as the Pakeha he would have received the same benefits as the European. Mr. Tirikatene said that made one very curious. The Maori was Jiving as the pakeha, paid (he same taxes and had the same responsibilities. Nationalise Electricity Supply " Stations. Mr. J. Linklater (Manawatu) referred to the guaranteed price proposal and said it was proposed to fix the price on a basis of prices over eight or ten years. If a boom occurred—and lie did not think anyone would say it would not —the farmers would not be satisfied with the price they received. A Labour member interjected: That is only the minimum. Mr. Linklater hoped the Minister ot Agriculture would take steps to prevent tne ravages of the white butterfly and also havo research work undertaken in connection with the black diamond moth. He referred to the power hoard troubles in Palmerston North and expressed the opinion that the Government should take over all hydro-electricity supply stations and run them as national undertakings. He urged closer supervision over the brakes and lights of motor cars.

The Blanket Incident. When the House resumed this evening Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East) by indulgence of the House referred to the blanket incident. He said he brought the matter before the House so that the Government could investigate and discover who was the manufacturer of the blanket he had produced. He had that day been sent a blanket from a w r oollen company which was an excellent article. He desired to prevent any stigma being placed upon honest manufacturers, but it was the duty of the Government to discover who was guilty of supplying the blanket he had produced which was nothing less than bare fraud and robbery, and to single that manufacturer out for punishment and prosecution if necessary, so that honest manufacturers might be shielded and protected. Raising School Age. Rev. Clyde Carr (Timaru) dealt with educational matters and said lie did not agree that Latm should be eliminated from the school curriculum. He urged that education districts should be made smaller and contended that senior inspectors had too much power. He agreed that more generous bursaries should be made available and said he doubted if there would have been any unemployment among teachers but for the exclusion of five-year-olds and if tho Government had continued the reduction in the sizes of classes. High exchange, he contended, had put a brake on imports and had had an adverse elfect on local bodies and ratepayers. Indication had been given that it was intended to attempt to fix a guaranteed price for tobacco. If it could be done for'tobacco why not for other commodities' lie referred to assistance to the unemployed and said it was recently stated there were 200,(100 children in Britain suffering from undernourishment. Apparently the prosperity of tho country was being achieved at the expense of the poor. Mr. Carr snid he and other members had been waited upon by a deputation ol' Crown tenants whose whole theme was that land values were too high and advocated a revaluation downwards. He had asked if they desired revaluation downwards or the price of the products of the land upwards, for that was Labour's policy. The deputation spoke of the deterioration of the land and urged that Land Purchase Boards be abandoned and allow ordinary land boards to do the job. They urged that leaseholds be made available without auction. He sometimes thought farmers were suffering from an inferiority complex. He reierred to tho fact that New Zealand sent thousands of pounds to the Baluchistan earthquake sufferers and rather thought that charity began at home. Production Should Not he Restricted Hon. C. E. Macmillau said it was not correct to say the world was suffering from over-production. Production was all going into consumption in the world. The statistics of the League of Nations showed there were 400,000,000 people in Central Europe living as they had never lived before. The Government had been making an effort to secure a better distribution of produce and he thought it had been successful even if it were not complete. He did not claim that the Government had been responsible for the increase in prices overseas, but said as New Zealand had not wasted her assets she was in a position to take advantage of extra prices for products. The result of the visit fo the Minister of Finance to Britain was that he had secured a meat quota they could not fill. NewZealand had to keep as much of the British market as she possibly could and he thought they would have the same measure of success if the question of restriction ever arose in the case of butter. He did not believe production should be restricted. He thought the policy of restriction was a w r icked one. He said prosperity was returning and the figures showed that savings bank deposits had increased in the last two years. The sales tax increases showed that more money was being spent. Imports to New Zealand had increased and the unemployment tax in the last two years had increased by £OOO,OOO despite the fact that the tax was reduced last year. He criticised the attitude of some of the unemployed who would not go to the country to work. It was impossible to bring work to the man as many seemed to desire. It would be much better and happier for everybody if those who advocated the claims of the unemployed advised them to take work that was available and try to make things better. Ammunition Mr. Langstone (Waimarino) characterised Mr. Macmilnn's remarks about the unemployed as moonshine and nonsense. The sooner the election came the better. He referred to tho events leading up to the breakaway of Labour from the Liberals before 100 G and he claimed that it was a good day for New Zealand when Labour did establish its own party. Mr. Langstone, referring to the blanket incident said the Minister of Employment knew what firm made the blanket which Mr. Semple produced. Hon. S. G. Smith: I did not. Mr. Langstone said Mr. Bromley told Mr. Semple yesterday afternoon the name of the maker. Mr. Smith: That information has not yet been given to me. Mr. Langstone said he would accept ! the Minister's word. He produced a small bag of fluff which, he said, came off a blanket in one right. He proceeded to deal with the guaranteed price scheme and criticised the Government for adhering to the contract entered into with the Colonial Ammunition Company. He referred to the raids on Chinese pakapoo playing, but said Calcutta sweeps went on unnoticed. He said the mind of the

public -was not at case regarding the administration of the Justice Department. lion. John Cobbe dealt .with the contract with the Colonial Ammunition Company. lie said the contract had still four years to run and as a result of the quality of the ammunition supplied the matter had been placed in the hands of Mr. A. 11. Johnstone, K.C., and the Government was now taking (5,000,000 rounds of ammunition less than it otherwise would. That meant a saving of £58,000 to the Government. Mr. Cobbe dealt with Mr. Langstone's speech and said from the language used in the House he doubted if the Labour party wa's fit to rule the country. Mr. Savage: When you get down to personalities we will mix that with you too. The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 10.30.