EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 243, 11 September 1935, Page 9

EDUCATION SYSTEM.

NEW MEMBER’S CRITICISM

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Address-in-Reply debato was resumed, Mr T. H. McCombs making his maiden speech in the House. _ Mr McCombs criticised the education system in New Zealand and said it was now but a shadow of what it was. It did not meet the requirements of the country. He said the exclusion of five-year-o’d children from the schools placed a severe handicap on the children. Ho contended that many positions in schools occupied by rationed teachers should have been occupied by fully-paid teachers. Free university training was also a thing of the past. Quite a number of brilliant scholars were unable to proceed with university training because they could not afford it. He referred to the lack of opportunity to qualified New Zealanders to give New Zealand the benefit of their special knowledge. He claimed that much of the time of secondary school pupils was wasted on Latin, French and some branches of mathematics when they could be taught more useful subjects. The New Zealand system was failing to turn out youths who were useful to manufacturers. That was why manufacturers were asking that the school age be raised. Malnutrition and poorly-clothed children were referred to, and Mr McCombs urged that greater attention should bo paid to these subjects. “LABOUR SPEAKERS VAGUE.” Mr C. A. Wilkinson said he was greatly' interested in Labour’s scheme ot guaranteed prices as he represented a rural electorate. Tlio Labour speakers so far had been very vague and he wanted to know what Labour proposed to pay for the commodities and now the money was to be raised. The question of iixed hours and wages for farm workers also concerned him. Until he secured that information lie could only conclude that the proposals were put forward for electioneering purposes. He referred to high taxation and said that between and 1936 taxation had increased by £7,5U0,U01). Ho claimed that iNew Zealand was i the highest taxed community in the world. He said Government taxation was £ls 18s 7d per head and local body taxation £3 los per head, making a total of £l9 13s 7d per head. He .hoped the Government would take into consideration when framing the Budget the point that relief was essential if the country was to get out of its difficulties lie appealed lor an immediate scaling-down policy. He referred to the farmers’ adjustment legislation paasod last session and said that the legislation was of considerable benefit to the liard-up farmer, but it did not go far enougn, and lie urged on the Government the necessity lor amending it td make it more effective for tlic liard-up farmer. He referred to the provision lor equity which was deleted from the original Bill and thought that aspect should be further considered and some equity granted the farmer for his work during the period of supervision. Coming to the question of wheat, Mr Wilkinson said tiie total quantity of wheat had gone clown by no less than one-third and the amount to be harvested was not sufficient for the requirements of New Zealand. He urged that money be made available to the farmer at a low rate of interest and that provision for repayment with, say, six months’ notice should be made in long-term loans. He suggested the setting up of a housing commission to enable the people to establish homes for themselves and said he would like to see the Government considerably reduce the exchange rate, which was crippling business and making the prices of imported goods far too high for the people’s pockets. Mr D. G. Sullivan said it was obviously impossible to answer Mr Wilkinson’s question regarding guaranteed prices until they were actually handling the situation and knew the circumstances obtaining at the time, but the principle laid down was that the basis of the guaranteed price would bo first and foremost and something that would give a decent living wage to the farmer. He went on to deal at length with unemployment matters and the malnutrition of tlio children ot relief workers. LABOUR’S TWELVE POINTS. Mr J. Hargest referred to the twelve points made by the Leader of the Opposition in his speech at Auckland. Ho said eight of the points were included in the Governor-General s speech and the other four were unworkable. He referred to Mr Savage’s speech and said he thought the late Mr Seddon would be very surprised if he thought he was the ancestor of the present Labour Party. Mr Hargest also considered that Mr beddon if alive, to-day, would stand in admiration of what the Government had done to meet the depression. Dealing with Mr Savage’s charge ot extravagance on the part of Governments in . recent years, Mr Hargest mentioned that the war accounted for a largo part of the increase in the National Debt. Public works, such as hydro-electric schemes, also absorbed a great deal of money. Reverting to Mr Savage’s A-uckland speech, Mr Hargest said one point was the restoration of cuts in pensions and civil service salaries. The present Government was doing that gradually. “Regarding the safeguarding of civil servants’ superannuation rights, had any civil servants’ rights ever been in danger?” Mr Hargest asked. “Not one,” he said. He defended the Government’s handling of the unemployment problem and said that while there were undoubtedly cases of hardship he bad never come across any of starvation such as the Opposition alleged existed. The Opposition criticised the Government all round and gave it no credit for what it had done. He contended the high exchange benefited several industries which could not exist if the exchange were lowered. He claimed, too, that the returning prosperity of the farmers was due to the Government’s actions. He urged greater assistance for secondary industries.

Mr 11. Semple said he had ample evidence from all parts of New Zealand, some from religious organisa-

tions, that there was destitution and starvation in New Zealand. He instanced the case of a woman and six children living in a rat-infested shed which received considerable publicity some months ago. Mr Semple produced a blanket which lie said was a sample of those issued to the unemployed. He said: “You could shoot peas through it.” Hon. S. G. Smith asked Mr Semple if he could have the blanket to have the matter investigated and Mr Semple agreed to hand it over. Mr Semple concluded that the Government had failed to take advantage of its opportunities and his opinion was that a number of those sititng on the Government side of the House were going to get a shock when the election results were known. INTERRUPTED MEETINGS.

Mr R. A. Wright criticised the followers of the Labour Party for interrupting non-Lalxnir speakers at meetings. He said he personally had been refused a hearing when there was no call for it. He opposed a high exchange and considered it against the interests of the country. He also opposed the Labour Party’s guaranteed price scheme and said both Labour and the Government were bidding for the farmer’s vote. The farmer was on velvet. Re garding a guaranteed price, it was the taxpayer who had to make up the difference between the market price and the guaranteed price, just as it was the taxpayer who had to pay the high exchange. He hoped the Government would go to the country with a definite policy, because he felt if they went with another blank cheque there would bo only one answer iiom the electors. Mr W. E. Barnard said the fault for interruptions at meetings usually lay with the chairman, but it must be remembered that the people had suffered sorely during the last four years, and it could not be expected that a meeting at which a Government candidate was sneaking would be like a prayer meeting. He outlined Labour’s policy and defended it. He referred to the Hawke’s Bay earthquake borrowers and thanked the Government for the relief given, and hoped that that relief would be extended. He also asked the Government to reconsider its previous decision not to grant further assistance to the Hawke’s Bav Hospital Board in restoring the hospital buildings and equipment. The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 10-30.