AMENDMENT DEFEATED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 244, 12 September 1935, Page 9

AMENDMENT DEFEATED

SUDDEN END TO DEBATE

LABOUR’S NO-CONFIDENCE MOVE Labour’s no-confidence amendment was defeated in the House of Representatives yesterday by 35 votes to 27, after the debate on this subject bad unexpectedly collapsed. More Government Bills, notice of tbe introduction of which had been given earlier, were then introduced and read the first time.

A feature of the proceedings last evening was a vigorous defence of the Government’s unemployment policy and the work of the Unemployment Board by Hon. S. G. Smith.

DEBATE COLLAPSES. UNEXPECTED TURN. LABOUR AMENDMENT LOST. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept, 11. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Address-in-Reply debate was resumed. Mr W. E. Barnard urged the need for increasing the population of New Zealand. He said the decline in the birth rate in the last four .years was accentuated by the Government’s repressive policy, but that was not the only factor contributing to the decline. There were others. An increase in population would enable more of our primary products to be consumed in the country, it would encourage the development of secondary industries and it would mean more would be contributing to the national wealth. _ A larger population, too, would give added security against any menace from a.n outside Power. The population should bo increased commensurate with the national resources.

At this stage the discussion on Mr M. J. Savage’s no-confidence amendment unexpectedly collapsed, and on a division being called for the amendment was lost by 35 votes to 27. The division list was as follows: AGAINST THE AMENDMENT. Ansoll, A. E. Macmillan, C. E. Bitchener, J. Macphcrson, J. A. Broadfoot, \V. J. McSkimming, P. Campbell, 11. McL. Massey, J. N. Coates, J. G. Massey, W. \V. Cobbo, J. G. Murdoch, A. J. Connolly, J. Nash, J. A. Endean, W. P. Ngata, Sir Apiraua Forbes, G. W. Ransom, E. A. Hamilton, A. Reid, D. S. Hargest, J. Smith, S. G. Harris, A. Stuart, A. Hawke, R. W. Sykes, G. It. Henaro, T. he I omo, laite ,'inil A E. Wilkinson. C. A. Kyle. 11. S. S. Wright, R. A. Link la ter, J. Young. J. A. McLeod, A. D. EOR THE AMENDMENT. Armstrong, H. T. Nash, W. Atmorc, H. O' linen, J. Barnard, W. E. Parry, W. E. Carr, C. Richards, A. S. Chapman, C. 11. Rushworth, 11. M. Howard, .E. J. Samuel, A. M. •Jones, F. Savage, M. J. Jordan, W. E. Semple, R. Langstone, F. Stallworthy, A. J. McCombs, T. 11. Sullivan. D. G. McDougall, D. Tirikateuc, E. T. McKoon, It. Veitch, W. A. Mason, H. G. R. Webb, P. C. Miinro, J. W. Pairs.—For the amendment: Lee, Schramm, Coleman. Against: Field, Lye, Holyoake. The debate on the main motion was continued by Mr A. E. Jull, who was opposed to the guaranteed price scheme. Ho said that as soon as the price was fixed the incentive for improvement was lost, and once that was lost produce began to deteriorate. He thought some alteration in the electoral law was overdue. He also thought compulsory voting should be essential, and a system of preferential voting introduced in the country. 119 thought tire cities should have a system of proportional representation with groups of five members. He contended that the big commercial interests in the cities were at present denied representation in the House.

NEW MEASURES. RENT RESTRICTION. EXTENSION OF LAAV. An extension of the law relating to the restriction of rents will be effected by the Rent Restriction Bill which was read the first time in the House to-day.-The Bill will continue the existing law in operation until October 31, 1936. CONTROL OF TIMBER EXPORTS. Another Bill introduced to-da-*- was the Products Export Amendment Bill which will provide for adequate control of the timber export industry in view of the increase in trade. It will extend the provisions of the principal Export Control Act to include timber. PANEL OF JUDGES. The appointment of nine permanent puisne Judges instead of eight, and ' an alteration in the personnel of the , Court of Appeal bringing the Chief Justice on to both divisions, are pro- .. vided for in the Judicature Amendment Bill which was introduced today. The necessity for the increase in the number of Judges arises irom the appointment of Mr Justice Johnston as Judge of the Court of Review of mortgagors’ liabilities while he continues to hold office as a Judge of the Supreme Court. A consequential amendment provides that while any Judge is absent or unavailable to sit in the Court of Appeal the constitution of the two divisions of the Court will remain as at present—that is to say, each division will consist of five Judges. AVhen, however, all the Judges are available to sit, provision is made to permit of the appointment of six Judges to one of the divisions. This is necessary for the continuance of the established rule by virtue of which the Chief Justice is a member and president of each division. SAFETY AT SEA.

A Bill giving legislative effect to tbe international convention for the safety of life at sea and the international convention on load lines was also introduced. The Bill authorises the Governor-General-in-Council to make the necessary regulations to bring the seven conventions into operation. Details are not contained in the Bill. The Minister considers that this is the bettor method in this case although legislation by Order-in-Council is sometimes objected to on principle. I lie regulations may prescribe the fees to be paid in respect of ships surveys or the granting of certificates and may also fix penalties for a breach of any regulation. PROTECTION OF WHALES.

With the object of conserving the whole of the stocks in the waters under New Zealand control, the Whaling Industry Bill, which was introduced today, will give effect to the International Whaling Convention of lJol or which New Zealand is a signatory. It is necessary for the New Zealand Parliainent to pass this legislation so that the convention will have complete effect. Whaling operations in the Doimn-

ion territory are small, but New Zealand has a very definite interest in the industry because of her administration of the Ross Dependency. The Bill follows closely the provisions of the Whaling Industry (Regulation) Act which was passed in 1934 by the British Government and that Act expressly extends New Zealand’s authority to pass legislation having extra-territorial operation in giving effect to the convention. At the present time the only statutory provisions affecting the whaling industry are contained somewhat inappropriately in the Fisheries Amendment Act, 1912. It is proposed to repeal these provisions while saving the rights under existing licenses. The provisions of the Bill will applv only to whalebone or baleen whales. Certain classes of whales will be protected. Whaling ships and whale oil factories will require to he licensed, and whale fishery inspectors will he given certain powers, while penalties will be prescribed for the pollution of public waters. The Government will be empowered to issue regulations from time to time. OTHER BILLS. The Commercial Trusts Amendment Bill is designed to restrict price-cut-ting in certain classes of proprietary goods. Authority for rabbit boards to deal in materials for the destruction of rabbits is contained in the Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill, which was introduced. The Law Practitioners Amendment Bill introduced to-day provides for the setting up of a disciplinary committee to deal with all branches of discipline by legal practitioners and to have power to impose suspension or strike a member off the rolls. Members will have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Masseurs Registration Amending Bill is designed to allow properly qualified nurses and medical men to practise actino-tlierapy (healing by rays and light).

SPEAKER’S THREAT. TOO MANY INTERRUPTIONS. REFERENCES TO UNEMPLOYED. In the House to-night, Mr AY. .T. Jordan denied the charges that tire Leader of the Opposition was saying one thing in the town and another in the country. He quoted portions of the address Mr Savage delivered at Auckland ill support of his contention.

Hon. S. G. Smith, referring to the meeting at Auckland which clergymen addressed, and to which Mr Jordan had made reference, said lie was of opinion that the clergy had been captured by the political campaigners of this country. Dealing with the speech made by Mr Savage, lie said the origin cf the Labour Party was discontent with the Liberal Government. He referred to the Labour Party conference) at Wellington in 1909, when the party favoured the Conservatives in preference to the Liberals. .He claimed that Mr Simple’s indictment last night regarding the unfortunate woman with six children was ail indictment not of the Government but of the AVellington Hospital Board. Mr Smith was subjected to considerable interruption, and the Speaker said he would have to ask some of the members to withdraw if they continued to interrupt. Mr Smith exhibited a blanket which lie said was a sample of those issued to the unemployed. If he could trace the blanket produced by Mr Semple the previous evening to the manufacturer lie would put the matter right and make a statement to the House. He would do his best to see that the unemployed were not exploited, and assured Mr Semple that if he gave the name of the man to whom the blanket was issued tlie man would not be victimised.

The Minister went on to give details of the improvements given to the unemployed since August 1, 1934. Mr Smith, referring to Mr McCombs’s speech, defied anybody to mention any country that had done more for the unemployed teachers than Now Zealand.

lii conclusion, Mr Smith said that for the last four years Labour had had the platform to themselves. They had been unchecked and unchallenged. He wished the members of his party could receive the same treatment. He ' claimed that no other Governntent could point to the same success as the present Government. Wherever there had been a Labour Government in power there had been failure. Labour voices: Queensland! Mr Smith: Yes, Queensland. The Minister said the Labour Government there borrowed £5,000,000 and started 18 State industries, everyone of which had been a failure and had been abandoned. He claimed that if New Zealand had had a Labour Government during the crisis the country would now have had a receiver in. THE THIRD PARTY. Mr W r . A. Veitch criticised the excessively high taxation that ruled today and said it was largely responsible for the present state of the country. The conditions under which many people were living to-day were very unsatisfactory, yet the Minister said he had no more money to do anything more. Mr Smith: 1 never said that! Mr Veitch said the people had paid their money willingly, thinking it had been usefully expended, hut what would they say when they learned that the Unemployment Board was paying 10 per cent, of the cost of the new Wellington railway station? Mr Veitch reviewed the events leading up to the formation of the National Government and said there was no justification for the continuation in office of the present Government. He said that the National Party now represented about 15 per cent, of the people and the Labour Party 25 per cent., leaving 60 per cent, of the electors of Now Zealand who were not represented by any party in the House. The reason why that stage had been reached was that election after election the great landowners in control of the political situation had said: “You must vote for us, because if you do not, you will get the Labour Party,” and the fear of the other fellow had caused the people

FAMILY ALLOWANCES

OVERHAUL SOUGHT

CASE OF DESERTED AYIVES

NEW PUBLIC WORKS

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

to keep the landowners’ party in force far too long. Referring to the vote-splitting charges ’against the Democrat Party, Air Veitch said that ho was sure that the Democrats would take far more votes from the Labour Partv than from the National Party, but he said that the followers of Labour would vote for that party, the followers of the Democrats vote for that party and the followers of the Government for the National Party. He said there would be no vote-splitting _ and claimed that tlie advent of a middle party was justified. He considered that most of those who would vote for the Democrats would have voted for Labour if there had been no Democrat Party. He deprecated the practice of delegating the powers of Parliament to boards and said that such boards must cost the country a considerable sum. . , , . The debate was adjourned and tlie Hou.se rose.

Moving for leave to introduce the Family Allowances Amendment Bill, Air AV. E. Barnard said the question of family allowances was one that affected increasingly a large number of the poorest of the people. According to official figures, in 1928 the number of allowances in force was 3006; in 1930 it had risen to 3868; in 1932 to 7332; and in that year the basis of the income upon which fhe family allowance was paid' was reduced from £4 to £3 ss. But that caused no diminution in the' number of applications and for the year ending March 31 last the total number of applications stood at 12,321 and some four thousand children were affected. It _ was high time, he thought, that the existing provision, which dated back to 1926, was 'overhauled and improved. The object of the Bill was to enable the mother rather than the father to apply for a pension. Under the law as it stood at present the onlv person who could make aplication was the father, and in a number of cast's unfortunate women lvad been deserted by husbands and left often in extremely difficult- positions. He hoped the Government would itself do something in the matter. , The Bill was supported by seveial members, who said there were a number of cases where women with children had been deserted by their husbands and were unable to secure assistance because they could not find then husbands to sign applications, or where a husband refused to sign an application, perhaps through spite or some * Rev. C. Carr and Air A. S. Richards referred to the fact that when the Alinistcr of Finance was Leader of the Opposition he urged amendments to the Act, yet when he became a member of Cabinet he took no steps on the lines he had previously urged that action be taken. Air Carr alleged that the police did not always do all they might do in locating defaulting husbands. Hon. J. G. Cobbo said it was entirely contrary to fact that the police did liot use every possible endeavour to ascertain the whereabouts of defaulting husbands. The police did their duty very carefully in cases of that kind. During the last two years the number of cases in which family allowances were paid were increased by 2000, the cost being just more than £30,000. The total amount paid out for the year ended Alarcli 31 last on account of family allowances was £152,818. It could not be said that family allowances were not receiving the attention of tlie Government. There were cases in which husbands avoided their resnonsibility, but it was net fair that the State' should be called upon to bear what was the husband’s responsibility. He had discussed the matter with the Commissioner of Pensions and there were difficulties of which members of the House were not aware. The Government was doing everything it reasonably could regarding family allowances at the present time. The Bill was read the first time. INVALID PENSIONS. The Invalid Pensions Bill (Air J. O’Brien) was also read the first time after the mover had replied to the debate which took place on Friday morning.

PREPARATIONS FOR FULL TIME

Air AA r . E. Barnard asked the Alinister of Employment to-day if he had seen a notice issued to relief workers asking if they were prepared to accept full-time work in the country, probably necessitating their absence from tlieir homes, and what would be the position of men who replied in the negative. Hon. S. G. Smith, in reply, said the question was asked in order to ascertain wlrat men would be available in the event of public works which would probably be undertaken in the country being arranged. Under the circumstances the board was not called on to make a decision regarding the second part of the question.

AVhen the Legislative Council met at 2.30, the Address-in-Reply debate was continued bv Hon. T. Bloodworth, who said that while .lie would not condemn every action of the Government he thought its achievements were not such as to warrant unstinted praise. He referred to Sir Alexander Herdman’s criticism and said that while he did not think it entirely fair it must be taken notice of. Air Bloodworth criticised at length the Government’s policy, and said that though there were no personal dictators in New Zealand there were party dictators. Hon. D. Buddo emphasised that it was only by. trade that industries in different countries could be fostered. He expressed appreciation at the successful issue of the meat negotiations and said they were no doubt paving the way to a permanent agreement. Cheap money was essential to farmers. Hon. A. Burns said that owing to the return of confidence the Dominion was making a good recovery. The Government had been trying to increase building in the large centres and he urged that the completion of Parliament Buildings was worth the consideration of Cabinet. He uttered a note of warning against over-subsidis-ing buildings as it would result in a drift of people to tbe towns. He expressed the hope that the Government would consider making arrangements for the sleeping accommodation of members and also urged the Government to consider the establishment of State sweepstakes. He suggested that a reduction in the unemployment lew was badlv needed. The debate was adjourned and the Council rose at 4.25 p.m.

A Jew and an Aryan woman at Landau, Germany, to whom a judge had granted a marriage license after the registrar had refused one, were arrested for “planning to marry.”