ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 246, 14 September 1935, Page 9

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

AN ELECTION QUERY. NO POSTPONEMENT.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 o’clock this afternoon. Mr A. J. St'alhvortliy said he strongly resented Hon. S. G. Smith’s statements that the Auckland clergy were victims of political campaigners, and said the clergymen concerned were gravely offended by Mr Smith’s remarks. He hoped the Budget would show that taxation would be reduced by £7,000,000, that the sales tax would be abolished, and the unemployment tax would be wiped out. He thought enterprise should be given 'a chance and a vigorous public works policy undertaken. Mr W. P. Endean said he thought Mr F. Jones was asking too much when he expected the Government to prevent all impositions on the public. Purchasers should be able to distinguish between good and poor goods. He thought statements made by various social workers could not be borne out. He had been in Parliament for five years and had come across only two cases where he considered sufficient had not been done for them. Referring to the international situation, he said he believed in peace. Anyone who went to war for pleasure should be placed in a mental hospital. He believed in the League of Nations, but he thought thero would be some difficulty in the League functioning successfully while great nations like Japan and the United States were outside it. He mentioned Mr Forbes’s statement regarding the position of New Zealand if Britain went to war. If Britain became embroiled in war and lost, what would happen to New Zealand’s market? If New Zealand stood apart, England might later say, if a war occurred in the Pacific, “Now fight your own battles.” He hoped that, if trade with the East developed, the cargo would be carried in British vessels. THE ARBITRATION COURT. Mr D. W. Coleman said the Government was very largely responsible lor the position New Zealand was in today. He said tire statements made by lion. J. G. Cobbo about wliat would happen if Labour came into power were bogeys. He said Lord Beaverbrook and his Press said exactly the same things before the last British elections. He regretted that the Prime Minister had stated that the Arbitration Court was not to be reinstated to its original position, and ho contended there were many employers who were quite satisfied with the present position, as they could sweat their employees as much as they liked. At the same time, he admitted that many employers were playing the game by their employees. He asserted that many so-called voluntary industrial settlements were compulsory settlements because the workers knew that, if they did not agree, they would have no award at all. He urged the completion of the NapierGisborne railway. Mr E. J. Howard regretted Mr A. D. McLeod’s- reference to the unemployed in moving the'Address. Mr McLeod interjected that he did not mean all the unemployed. Mr Howard alleged that all the terrible things that it was said would happen if Labour came into power were happening now. Women and children were starving, and children were unable to go to school because they had insufficient clothing and no footwear. He referred to Mr Coleman’s plea to finish the Gisborne-Napier railway and said .the Government never finished any job, except the ruination of the workers. The Government knew it could not defend its own position, so it raised' the bogey of guaranteed prices. He reviewed the events which had caused Labour to break away from the Liberal Party and form its own organisation. THE ELECTION. Mr C. H. Chapman expressed the hope that, if Italy and Abyssinia were at war before the election, and Britain became involved, that would be not taken as an excuse for postponing the election. Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes: The election will not be postponed. Mr Chapman continued to review the actions of the Coalition Government in the last four years. Mr Forbes said he expected the debate to conclude on Tuesday, afternoon. The Budget would be introduced on Tuesday evening. The House adjourned at 5.30.