PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1937, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE DEBATE mag ADDRESS-IN-REPLY CONTINUED. (Per Press Association —Copyright). WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. The debate on the Address-m-Reply was continued when the House met at 2.H0 p.m., by Mr Denham, who contended that a majority of Southland farmers were mote than satisfied with the Government’s guaranteed price policy. Mr T. Dr Burnett said he failed to understand New Zealand’s apathy on defence matters, and suggested a private session of the House at which tae Prime Minister and Minister of Peleiice should take members into their confidence on the subject.

Mr Barred, who was making his maiden speech, affirmed his support of the Labour policy and stated that metropolitan papers throughout New Zealand w ere devoting , more attention to the speeches of Opposition members, than to those’ of the Government. Mr Poison said the Dairy Board, it it had been left would have carried out the job of fixing guaranteed prices more efficiently and at less cost than the Government.

The Minister of Railways, (Hon P. G. Sullivan) stated control in industry was fully justified, as long as it was exercised with discretion and judgment. He said the Profiteering Act had fully justified its purpose in preventing an increase in prices to an unwarranted degree. Mr Holland criticised the Government’s industrial legislation which had a very detrimental effect on the young people of the country. The Minister of Finance (Hon W. Nash) said the Government were doing everything possible to see that young people, who had missed their opportunity during the slump would receive a chance to be absoroed into industry. The maximum benefit to the country came with high wages, and it did not matter how high commodity costs went, as long as wages went higher. There had never been a peiiod in the history of this country when the people were better able to meetall charges incidental to home lite. He outlined the Government’s methods of arriving at guaranteed prices stating 5.17 pence per lb had been allowed for maintenance costs, 3.06 pence for interest charges etc, and 1.54 pence for pigs guaranteed prices. After deduction of those costs it gave the dairy farmer a return commensurate with the work he was doing. Mr Bodkin stated the Government bad completely destroyed confidence in the country. The House rose at 10.20 p.m.