ECHOES FROM "HANSARD."

Northern Advocate, 2 September 1913, Page 7

ECHOES FROM "HANSARD."

Mr Webb (Grey).—l sincerely hope that the Government will bring down a Bill to increase the salaries of the teachers in New Zealand.lt is a standing disgrace to the democracy of this country that the teaching profession should be sweated in the manner in which it is now; and I say it is not right to wait, until after this session, because the present Administration may not last long, and the incoming party would require some time to reorganise. I submit that this session should see a Bill that is 'going to increase considerably the salaries of the teaching profession throughout the whole of this country. I am sure the Government will receive the support of every member on these benches, anyhow, if such a proposal is brought down. Again, we have heard much from the Reform party about equal opportunity for all, and a square-deal policy. I submit, Sir, that the appointment of Mr Royd Garlick was not a square deal, nor was it giving equal opportunity to all. The least the Government could have done was to call for applications.

Air Allen (Minister for Finance).— "The soundness and prosperity of the country," says the member for Avon (Mr Russell) is due to the administration of the previous Government. That Government that was "drest in a little brief authority" for three months. I ask how could a three-months Government build up the soundness and prosperity of the country? Did the Government that preceded them build up the soundness and prosperity of this country? Did they leave the country, when they went out of office, financially sound and financially prosperous? Sir, the public know, and this House knows, what the condition of the country was when that "little brief authority" Ministry came into office. The members of that Ministry are well aware of the difficulties they had to deal with. And how did they deal with them? They launched this country into a loan of four millions and a half for two years, and they so arranged that the loan should become due within a few months of the time when another loan of over three millions of money also became due for payment. Was it sound finance to put this country in the position of having to pay off two short-dated loans in one year?