ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 257, 27 September 1933, Page 2

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

DEBATE BEGINS. GOVERNMENT COAIAIENDED. Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. The formal Address-in-Reply motion was moved by Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North) when the House of Representatives resumed at 7.30 o’clock. Mr Holland paid a warm tribute to the work which Lord and Lady Bledisloe had performed in all parts of the Dominion. . Defending the Government s policy m relation to social services, lie said that the pension cuts in New Zealand had not been so great as in other countries, and the New Zealand Government had also cut down rents and other charges. The cost of living also had been reduced since 1929, so that the pensioner was really better off to-day than he had been before the cuts. Mr Holland'also defended the Government against any . charge of treating returned soldiers harshly m the matter of pensions. He said the Dominion executive of the R.S.A. had itself been convinced that reductions were unavoidable. New Zealand was . the only country in the world that paid its returned soldiers an economic pension. He centended that the Government, in reducing the wages of the working

community, had exercised a due sense [ of responsibility and had followed a. statesmanlike policy in spreading the 1 burden. He congratulated the Govern- 1 ment and the Unemployment Board on , the manner in which they had handled the tragic question of unemployment, and favourably compared New Zealand’s efforts with those of other countries. He urged the Government to inquire into the possibilities of manufacturing industries absorbing more employees. EXCHANGE APPREHENSION. The member for Christchurch North suggested that the Government should take early steps to remove the misapprehension in the minds of merchants and importers regarding its future policy on the high exchange issue. He said rumours were in constant circulation that it was the intention of the Government to decrease or cut out the exchange rate almost immediately, and people were afraid to import because they feared that when the goods on which had paid 25 per cent, exchange were landed here the exchange would have been lifted. He considered a clear statement as to the position of local tenderers for contracts on the new Wellington railway station would also be appreciated. It had been stated that local tenderers would not be penalised, but there still seemed to be some doubt on the point. Congratulating Mrs AlcCombs on her success in the recent by-election. Mr Holland expressed the hope that her career would be a very successful one and that Parliament and the country would be better for her presence in the House. OCCUPYING THE LAND. The motion was seconded by Air AY. J. Broadfoot, who said that for vitality and strength in the people one had to turn to tlie soil. That was why he had always advocated land settlement on right lilies. For many years land settlement had been denied to the small man, but the small farm scheme was providing avenues for settlers with little or no capital. Land settlement was a slow process, but tlie progress to date had been sound. There were also areas being prepared for small settlements and -in a short time the number of people on the land should be considerably increased. He advocated simplification and resiliency in the administration of the small farm schemes. It was essential that the pace of settlement should be accelerated as far as was possible. It had been said that men with capital would get an opportunity under the scheme, but he contended that the man with a few hundred pounds was a most suitable person to settle on the land. Air Broadfoot said he wished to compliment the Native Minister on the excellent devlopmental work that had been carried out for the Alaoris. He had inspected the schemes and had examined the costs and was convinced that a greater advance had been made than had ever been attempted before. He suggested, however, that where there was more land available than was necessary for native settlement, the surplus should be taken over at a failprice for European settlement. The money arising from the sale of the land should be 'put into the hands of the Native. Minister for developmental purposes. Air Broadfoot advocated the amalgamation of all the lending departments of State. This policy had been adopted in the United States and it was providing better facilities for advances to farmers. He suggested that the State Advances Department’s limit for lending money on stock should be raised and the time allowed for repayment extended. Mr Broadfoot said it was well known that betting with bookmakers was carried out on an extensive scale and he advocated the elimination of this practice by providing an opportunity for siLver bettors and larger investors to keep within the law. He considered that racing clubs should be provided with facilities for which they had been asking and that a State lottery should be established. He referred to the profits realised on State lotteries in Australia and the amounts received by the State Governments in taxation. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Leader of the Opposition and the House rose at 9.10 p.m.