NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

Mataura Ensign, 22 February 1912, Page 2

NO-CONFIDENCE DEBATE.

HON. J. A. MILLAR'S DEFENCE

LIBERAL MEMBERS' HOPES.

'■"*•« UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. In the House of Representatives this evening Hon. J. A. Millar continued the debate on the no-confidence motion. The country, he said, would have been brought into a lovely state if the party in power in 1891 had been allowed to continue administering its affairs. He recommended the fights they had to get any decent legislation passed. He asked what the Opposition 'meant when they said they had clean hands. When the Leader of the Opposition went to Oamaru he gave utterance to statements which could not be substantiated. The Government had been charged with being corrupt, but the charges were nebulous. There was nothing specific: about thorn. The Hine charges had not been proved despit-e 'the fact that those formulating them had had access to all the files. Mr Massey. We had not. Mr Millar: You did. Mr Massey: They were not all there. Mr Millar: Do you imply that Departmental officers had removed documents from the files submitted? That sort of thing (he continued) was hitting below the belt. Why had not a definite charge been mad© against the Government? If the present policy of the Opposition were pursued no decent man would remain in public life. Mr Millar cited figures showing the voting of various members of the Opposition in regard to advances to settlers, old age pensions and other Liberal measures, pointing out the occasions on which they had voted against the measures or rej trained from voting. The position showed that the men then in powoi had better discri'mination as to what was for the benefit of the than had honorable gentlemen on the other side. He wanted the Houss tr judge men by their actions and not by their words. The Minister th?n yoceecleu to explain and defend the ease <f ''•or -a.-nvl borrowing and expenditure which th-> Opposition had nut in the bil' of indictment as "reckless expenditure." .Figures were quoted to shew that a large percentage- of the borrower" money whs reproductivo, and he com plained of the unfair attitude of the Opposition in its methods of criticising bait's without taking into account lion the money was utilised. Referring tr the charge of over-taxation, ho n?W vhat could tho Government do withoui 1 :he sanction cf Parliament? Referrin} othe Dreadnought, he said that no! mo penny had been expended until i 1 vas sanctioned by Parliament. Th< •■riginul offer was sent Home with i fcatement that nothing would be done until it whs sanctioned bv Parliament i.ie proceeded to defend the Civil Ser /ice from charges alleged against it and declared that taxation had beci: taken off workers. He concluded thai the Liberal Party had an unequalled record since it took office in 1891. He maintained that- the party had to be credit 3d with good' work tending to the prosperity of tha country, despite the oppbwtion on the othVr side.' If his reslgrtation would be v of service to the j party he was prepared to retire. He I had n'o desire to retain office unless it were to the advantage of the party. Mr Herdman (Wellington North) said it did not matter what the present Government had done in the past. The present was the time to judge. The Government had not grappled with its trusteeship as it should have done, and was not worthy of the confidence of the House. With regard to "hack downs," he would refer members to the Governor's speech, which was punctured with "back downs." The people had declared that they did not want the present Government. The Local Government Bill had been included in the Governor's speech; but it had been dragged from the Government. He objected to the rapid borrowing policy pursued by the present Government. Civil Service reform was necessary, as was reform in the management of the railways. Again, native matters had not been attended to as they should have been; the expenditure of publie money needed ventilation, and this not forthcoming. Political influence ii the public service was the curse of th< country and stamped out the bettei class in the service. The Governmenwas responsible for the Arbitration Act and it was useless; in fact, it hac widened the gulf between employer am employee. The excessive borrowing o the present administration was teach ing the people of the country to be ex travagant. They should be* taught ti live on their own resources and not cul tivate extravagance consequent upoi excessive borrowing. The Minister ii charge of the railways was very able but he could not be expected to effi ciently manage the Department, havin. had no railway training. Under th' Liberal Government the country ha< gradually lost sight of the fundamenta principles of democracy. There was ai industrial revolt in New Zealand an< people were afraid to invest money n the country. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said tha ,Mr Allen had been caught napping tinn aind again, and if the Opposition cam. | into power they would never appoin ihim Minister for Finance. Had tin 'Liberal Party displayed one-half th energy displayed by the Opposition i would have been returned with a sub statntial majority. He claimed tha the party which occupied the Treasur benches would have to go on with thi progressive policy of recent years. Hhoped that the result of the divisioi would be the continuance of the Liber al party. The House adjourned at 11.20 p.m.