In the Upper House

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 6

In the Upper House

Address-in-Repiy Debate Continued KON. W. PERRY ON DEFENCE POLICY Ter Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 21. The Legislative Council met at 10.30, when the Address-in-Reply debate was continued by lion. E. Dye. who said that as a farmer he could say that rising costs had not removed the benefit of the guaranteed price. Farming costs had gone up because farmers had the advantage of electricity, cars, radios, and other amenities, and they could not expect to have those at the old costs. Ho quoted figures to show that dairy farmers were receiving a higher percentage of return from their produce, and that factory costs had been reduced.

lion. F. E. Lark defended the Government’s policy and said that people were better off than previously, in spite of what the Opposition claimed. Ho denied that there was any Communistic place iu Ney Zealand. Hon. Rangi Mawhete expressed concern at the increased drinking among Maoris and said that some were spending their additional earnings on liquor. He announced that a conference would be held next month to discuss the problem and expressed the hope that something could bo done to remedy the position. He appealed to the Government to give more opportunities to Maori youths in administrative positions.

Hon. F. E. (FFlynn said he did no:, agree that New Zealand was likely' to be invaded, but he considered the Government should raise a citizen army and train people against the possibility of an air attack. He advocated more Maori teacners in Maori schools. The Council adjourned at 1 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. On the resumption lion. W. Perry discussed the international situation and said New Zealand’s position would bo precarious if the British Commonwealth was endangered, but the people of the country were not prepared to face up to that and prepare to defend themselves. Despite the Prime Minis- . er’s most eloquent appeal, tho effective strength of the military reserve was only about 12,000. There were 193,000 men between the ages of 20 and 35 in New Zealand, but only 7 per cent, of that class had offered for service. That was not the fault of the Government but the fault of the people. He advocated conscription as the only means of effective defence, not conscription of fit men to fight for all, but conscription of everyone and of wealth in time of war During the depression, ho said, when thero were 8000 returned soldiers unemployed, men were dying and leaving over £250,000. No one should bo allowed to make profits out of war.

The Leader of the Council (Hon. D. I Wilson) defended the Government’s j policy and denied that the country was in difficulties. The shortage of London funds was due to a number of causes that could not be avoided, and there i was no financial problem within New Zealand that could not be overcome. New Zealand was prosperous commercially, and there had never been fewer empty shops in the towns. Tho sales tax was realising more revenue than ever before and for the first five months of this year the returns had increased by over 9 per cent, as compared with the same period a year ago. Bankruptcies had only once been lower in the last 60 years. Industrially, New Zealand was in advance of any previous period and the manufacturers had orders for months ahead. The result of that was that factories were being enlarged, more were being built, and there was a shortage of skilled workers. The best answer to criticism was the results of the Labour policy since 3935, The amount paid in salaries and wages had increased by 68 per cent., wage rates had increased oy Z/.9 per cent, and the cost of living by 13.4 per cent. That showed that real wages were up by 14.4 and that more money was being earned by more people. Hon. T. F. Doyle replied to the debate and the motion was carried.

The Council adjourned at 5.5 p.m. until August IG.