PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1931, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

THE HOUSE.

WANT OF CONFIDENCE MOTION.

(By Teleyraph—Per Tress Association)

WELLINGTON, July 17. In the House oi Keprestntatives yesterday the Leader of the Labour Party resuming the Address-in-Keply debate, uoved a formal want of confldnce mendment. He said he wished .to draw attention to the fact that in rerent times the had only one opportunity to express themselves ■: on the Government’s fundamental wage •eduction policy. The Hauraki byeflection had been a crushing condemnition of that policy.. The Government candidate polled about one third of the vote lie had received at the general election, when lie had stood for the Government’s policy .of standard wages. He was quite sure the new member would nof, go back on his confirmation of the wage reducing pol-

Mr Hollan.d went on to refer to the tariff alterations affecting Canada, and asked why was it that Australia could make arrangements and agreements with Canada while New Zealand Gov- * ”-nment utterly failed iii that direction. There Avas need for a systernfltisec plan'for arranging commercial re* lations.hip with other countries , qri tlie basis of their trade with us, The United Kingdom, by far our best customer, took nearly twice as much of our products as we took from her, while on the other hand, we exported approximately six millions, worth of pro. duce to other British countries, taking ten millions worth in return, and exported approximately eight millions worth .to foreign counties, talcing 15 millions worth in return. Mr Forbes said lie thought Mr Holland would have known by now that the country had quite realised what had been done about wages was fully justified by tlie economic conditions, and he added that the Labour Government across the Tasman had to face the question of a twenty per cent reduction. That, he declared was where New Zealand would have been had there been a Labour Government in office. It had been established as v principle by the present Government that, so far as possible Neiv Zealand should buy from those to whom her oroduce was sold. The Government was only too anxious to have a reciprocal trade . agreement" with Canada nit it must not be a one sided agreement. .

Mi Fletcher i--Why did you not call it Canada on your way. back and negotiate ? Mr Forbes:—lf you think the Prime Minister of New Zealand is going to go round 'brawling, lifter people for trade advantages, you have ntudo tt

mistake. He added had he met Mr Stevens iu London and asked if there was a chance of a reciprocal agreement with Canada, in regard to our butter, and had been told that there was no ued this morning at 10.30 p.m. Mr Holland’s amendment was defeated by 48 to 19, only Labour members voting for it. - The debate on the Address-in-Rely motion was then continued, until the rising of the House at 10.30 p.m. WELLINGTON * July 17. . In the House of Representatives the \ ddrcss-in-Reply debate was (continued. -

Tile Minister of Agriculture (Mr A. T. Murdoch) announced that a pronouncement would shortly lie issued against the export of standarised '•beese. From the beginning of the new .season, nothing but Tull cream cheese will be exported from New Zealand. Purchasers would be made fully acquainted with the fact that we will be «unplying nothing but the finest nnnlity.

The debate, is proceeding. The formal Address-in-Reply motbn was adopted and the House acliourned at 12.50 p.m.