ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1926, Page 3

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

OPENING OF THE DEBATE.

TWO -SPEECHES LAST NIGHT, -

Per Press Association.:- . WELLINGTON, June 23. ■ In the House of Representatives this evening Mr -H.' I/. *Tapley' (Dunedin North)' moved: ‘‘That a respectful-ad-dress be presented to His Excellency the Governor-General- in - reply - to Hisi Excellency’s speech.” ■ In opening he expressed the general regret which prevailed when it was known that sudden indisposition prevented .His Excellency personally opening Parliament and .- personally addressing members, of both. Souses and trusted that His Exoellency would speedily be restored to his wonted health. He congratulated _the Speaker upon his election to the chair: of the' House and the Prime Minister upon his leadership of the Reform' Party. Mr Coatbs was an out and out Imperialist, and as it was felt on that side of the House that the fortunes of the Dominion were irrevocably-linked up with the Motherland, they all felt they could safely leave New Zealand s interests in. the Prime Minister’s hands at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, where matters of vital Imperial importance would be discussed. After l-efer-j ring to the Dunedin Exhibition, Mr Tapley proceeded to discuss finance and the public credit. He congratulated the country on the success of the recent loan in England, which was a tribute to our undoubtedly sound position. At the same time the effect of the unsettled state of world trade was having a reflex action in New Zealand, and although the Government was putting the loan money to good use, they were no longer able to lend to settlers and others at the old cheap rate. Discussing the trade balance, he said we must increase our exports if we wished to avoid a period of depression. The position as revealed by the statistics was serioufc and he would like to see more of our trade done with other portions of the Empire. He endorsed the immigration policy of the Government and did not believe it had to any extent contributed to the unemployed trouble, nor did he believe that New Zealanders had been dismissed to make room for immigrants. We could do with a much larger population and it was absurd that we should shut our doors against our kin and 1 folk. So long as we got the present class of immigrants we could not go wrong. He pleaded for an early settlement of the question of the site for an agricultural, college, but 6aid that matter might safely be left in the hands of tho Minister. In seconding tho motion Mr Jones (Marsden) dealt first with finance for farmers, a subject on which he. spoke feelingly, since he was a farmer. He said that short-dated loans were tho curse of the farmers. One thing was certain: the must have better finance than they had had for a long time. Ho did not question the good work done by the Advances Departnient and Public Trust Office, but what was wanted was a system moro general in its application. He urged the application of scientific research in connection with agriculture. Of first importance to the dairy industry was tho question of quality. If they did not maintain an ‘article of the highest quality, their produce must suffer tinder competition on the markets of tho world. To this end the grading of cream had been suggested, and while he agreed with the step, he expected it would at first create something of a riot, but subsequently the. farmers would realise its value and accept it with a good grace. The speaker touched on several other matters, and said he would begin bis career in the House as lie hoped to continue —by not making long speeches. The adjournment of tho debate was moved bv the Leader of the Opposition.’and the House rose at 9.15 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.