PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1940, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

.DEBATE CONTINUED. (Per 'Press Association—Copyright). WELLINGTON, July 13. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Doidge continuing the Budget debate, dealing with therecent • strike in . the State Coal Mines on' the West Coast, asked if the Government had no backbone in handling matters of this kind. The same sort of thing had occurred during the last few years in France,' When the Socialist Premier, M. Leon Blum, had given away concession after concession, “and look what has happened to ; France today lie said. 1 ' Rt. Hon. P. Fraser; “It is stupid ignorant tripe. Your not' fit to tie his shoe lace.”

The Speaker (Hon. W. E. Barnard: “Order. Order.” The Prime Minister then rose to a point of order, and asked if such statements as had been made by Mi Doige were in . accordance (with the dignity of the House. The Speaker ruled that it was, perhaps, unwise for such statements to be made, and he asked Mr Doidge not to pursue his present line of argument, which Mr’Doidge agreed to. Continuing, Mr Doidge blamed the Government tor the present shortage of houses, because it had killed private enterprise in the- 'direction oi house-building. Mr F. L. Frost (Labour, New Plymouth), said that Mr Doidge seemed to emulate a character in the “Pil- "\ grim’s Progress,” namely the man with the mud rake. Mr Doidge also appeared to have a complex in regard to Communism, but Mr. Frost expressed the opinion it was time for us to adopt, a view in our. attitude towards that great, country Russia, with whonp we . were not at Avar. . Mr, W. J. Broadfoot . (Nationalist, Waitomo), characterised; -the forty hour week as “dry rot” which was : ruining pur. social structure. We were In. the age when the requirements of the individual were much wider than they were twenty years ago. To-day the average individual wanted his car, electricity, washing machines, etc.,'and it was impossible to produce and have those things without working longer than forty hours a week. Mr Broadfoot expressed the opinion that canteens providing light ale should he introduced into the Territorial Camps. There would bp a big territorial camp at Waiouru, which would be in a dry district, but if several thousand men were put there, sly groggers would soon appear. Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Government), Oamaru), said that the Member for Waitomo had suggested that the forty-hour week was curtailing our war effort. The attitude of the. Government to the forty-hour week was quite clear. If it could be proved by the Members of the Opposition, or anyone else, that it was hindering such effort, then it must go.

Mr Nordmeyer said Mr Broadfoot had also suggested the introduction of wet canteens into territorial camps, aud had specially mentioned Waiouru. This was a policy matter which should be dealt with with the greatest caution. Waiouru was in the King Country, and he had given an undertaking to the Maoris many years ago that liquor would not be introduced to the King Country. Many people would regard the establishment of a wet canteen at Waiourvi as a distinct breach of faith. The debate was interrupted by the a/djournment at 5.30 p.m., land the House rose until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.