PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 181, 3 July 1931, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 2. The Legislative Council met at 2.3 C p.m. The Wanganui Church Acre Amendment Bill was read a second time and referred to a committee of selection. Replying to Hon. M. Fagan, Sir T. K. Sidey said that it was not intended to introduce legislation prohibiting the importation of motor spirit in other than bulk form.

Resuming the Add ress-i 11-Reply debate, Hon. D. Buddo said that Parliament was meeting under unusual and distressing circumstances. One of the greatest burdens of the producers was local rates, many local bodies having gone too far in erecting unnecessary bridges and building highways. Mr Fagan said that the finding of work for the unemployed was the paramount duty of Parliament. He favoured the necessary money being raised by a wage tax, and he did not approve of anyone protesting against the levy by refusing to pay it. He agreed with the Government’s policy of not giving sustenance without work. More funds should be placed at the disposal of the board in order that more work could be provided tor married men. The unemployed should not be concentrated in the cities.

The debate was adjourned on the motion of Hon. G. J. Garland and the Council rose at 4.10 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONTINUATION OF DEBATE

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 2

Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate in tho House of Representatives, Mr C. H. Chapman expressed the opinion that the depression and unemployment were due to a breakdown of tho capitalistic system. The Government was seeking only to balance its Budget, regardless of the major problem. He considered it to be the clear duty of hospital boards to find accommodation for the families of relief workers, whose income of 28s a week for three weeks, followed by a week of idleness, made it impossible to pay rent. The registered unemployed should bo exempted from the lew.

Mr T. W. Makitanara said the Unemployment Act had been of great benefit to the Maoris in the South Island. He had heard statements in the House that the Act had been of no use. “It is of no use to the waster,” said Mr Makitanara, “but it is of use to the man who is prepared to put his shoulder to the wheel.” Mr J. S. Fletcher declared that New Zealand was facing a first-rate crisis with a second-rate Government. He expressed the opinion that the failure of the plant at Arapuni had been one of the factors resulting in the undersubscription of the recent New Zealand loan. When a British firm of contractors had declined to complete tho work at Arapuni it had been evident that the firm was satisfied that there was something wrong at the foundation. It had undoubtedly been the possibility of loan money being invested in projects such as this or the South Island railway that had deterred British investors. Mr Fletcher criticised the Government’s attitude towards the Canadian tariff. Its aggressive tactics had not been justified. he said, and the worst feature of all had been the raising of duties by 0 rder-i n-G'o u ncil. When Parliament had been due to meet so soon- afterwards, the decision should have been left to Parliament. Mr A. Hamilton said that it was one of tho chief duties of the Government to see that the national income was equitably distributed and that was the pressing problem to-day. New Zealand was endeavouring to maintain a standard of living about 50 per cent, above pre-war level while Britain had gone back to below pre-war level. We must adjust ourselves to world conditions and Parliament must take that work in hand. The farmer was practically without income to-day. His difficulty was that 110 could not sell produce on the same basis as the things he had to purchase. He objected to selling wool below pre-war prices and paying double the price lor a suit of clothes. Mr W. J. Jordan said that it was surprising that the Government had to set up commissions and boards of all sorts when there were men in the House who had practical experience of farming and practically every form of business. The electors would want to know why members of Parliament did not do the job for which they, were sent to Parliament. Mr H. S Kvle said the Government should watch very closely the dumping of Russian goods in New Zealand. He would like to know what Russia was going to take from us in return. A voice: Wool. Mr Kyle: I hope so. The next thing perhaps Russian wheat will be coming in. Mr J. W. Munro said that the United Party had made a practically unconditional surrender to the Reform Party. Criticising the Government’s land policy, he said that it seemed that fresh settlers were being placed on land in some places, while farmers were being forced off in other places. It seemed to him an important tiling was to keep 011 the land the men who were already there. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose till 10.30 a. lll. to-morrow.