Ebb and Flow In Parliament

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1939, Page 5

Ebb and Flow In Parliament

[Per Press Association. Copyright.'] WELLINGTON, This Day.

Accusing the Government of having failed to carry out its promise that it would not borrow in London, Mr D. C. Kidd (National —Waitaki), making his maiden speech in the House in the course of the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate yesterday afternoon, said that the Government;

coming in on a wave of prosperity, had used up all the reserves of responsible departments o f State.

Finding that money had run out, it had turned again to orthodor finance methods by sending Mr Nash to Londoh to negotiate a loan.

Compulsory Training Urged

He agreed that most returned soldiers on both sides of the House would approve of the suggestion that defence should not be a party matter, rather that all members should co-operate in furthering the defences of this country. He, however, would support the introduction of universal service in New Zealand. Personally, he did not regard 16,000 men as a sufficient defence force for the Dominion, but contended that 30,000 to 40,000 would be required. Any returned soldier wopld know that 20,000 would be required to defend Wellington alone. Guaranteed Price Fails. Dealing with the question of a guaranteed price, he considered that the Government had failed in this direction. The Labour Party in 1935 had said it would guarantee a payable return for butter, cheese, meat and wool, but the promise had not been carried- out.

Obstruction of Defence

Mr T. H. McCom Lyttelton) suggest* advocated conscrip' ting the defence The Government had decided that New Zealand should be defended by the voluntary system. It was superior to the compulsory military ’’training as formerly worked in New Zealand. There was no real enthusiasm and

>s (Government — 1 that those who ion were obstruc--3f the Dominion.

parades were too infrequent. Railway Passes for Territorials.

He suggested that the Minister of Railways encourage volunteering by granting a free railway pass for a fortnight annually to every efficient volunteer. The Government was not giving enough publicity to its defence preparations. Many examples could be seen, even by overseas visitors, but newspapers were not allowed to describe them.

Secondary Industries,

The Opposition knew that its cost reduction policy meant unemployment, because wage cuts were inevitable. They had quoted strike figures, omitting to mention that the trifling loss through this cause amounted to onefifth of one per cent, of the total wage bill. Australia had had the courage to develop its secondary industries, putting 57 items on the prohibited import list. England had not penalised Australia for this, nor would New Zealand suffer.

Mr McCombs also blamed the actions of the previous Government for the drift of workers from the country to the cities because a higher rate of sustenance had been paid in the towns. The country part of the Lyttelton electorate had been stripped bare of workers because of that policy. The Government agreed that men were needed in the country, but the farmers themselves were the only ones who could train them.

Mr W. J. Poison (National—Stratford), dealing with the question of defence, expressed the opinion that the Minister of Defencd should have spoken early in the Ad-

dress-in-Heply debate, and told the House what the Government was doing i n defence matters. The Minister of Defence: I am going to speak on Tuesday night. Mr Poison: That will be welcome,

because the first real intimation on defence was given by the member for Grey Lynn, Mr Lee, this morning.

Government Complimented

Mr Poison proceeded to compliment the Government on its housing policy, stating that the.houses which were being supplied were filling a long-felt want in the Dominion. Government members; You ought to be sitting over here. Mr Poison: You wait until I have finished (Laughter). He also complimented the Minister of Railways on the introduction of

x'ailcars, and the Minister of Education on the provision of up-to-date schools. ! •*! ’ -A Question of Finance. However, he added, all these improvements boiled down to the question of finance. How far could they go without damaging the Dominion’s financial structure? The Government had contended that its financial difficulties were occasioned because financial gangsters had “put it on the spot.” but Mr Poison was of opinion that the Government itself was responsible for its present difficulties. Five-eighths of New Zealand’s imports were raw materials, he said, so that to reduce imports by 60 per cent, meant that it would have a detrimental effect on internal manufacturing. Consequently, restrictions were getting the country nowhere.

Over-Expenditure.

During the last three years, he said, the country had increased its internal debt by 55 million pounds, and he claimed that we had expended over 200 millions during that period. According to League of Nations’ statistics, New Zealand had over-expended by 17 million pounds, or, according to Mr Nash’s figures, by 26 millions.

Mr Poison advocated a free exchange rate, which, he contended, would increase the price of farm produce substantially, and would not affect our importing trade.

The House rose at 5.30 until 2.30 on Tuesday.

The following discussion took place on Friday morning:—

Mr A. E. Jull (Nat., Waipawa) reminded members that the House was a broadcasting station where some listeners had a chance of talking back. Mr Lee, he said, had been making an

(appeal to all members of the House |to assist recruit- | ing. That was a | laudable thing to | do, but he added, | “I am on thin ice I here, for I know \ nothing about de- ! fence. In the last i War I was in what was called

the National Reserve. I got as far as forming fours. Now they are forming threes, and I am gone.” (Laughter.)

State Houses Too Dear. Referring to the Government’s housing policy,-Mr Jull said that the houses that were being built were good, but in requiring all heart timber specicifiations the Government was a little extravagant. This would lead to the wastage of millions of feet of timber every year. Mr T. H. McCombs; Would you say the houses are too good? Mr Jull: I would say that the houses are not too good for a working man. They are too dear, that’s all. It’s a bit like a working man’s wife looking at a forty-guinea fur coat in a shop window. She knows it’s not too good for her, but that it’s too dear.” (Laughter.)

State’s Gold Hoard?

Mr Jull added that he would venture on a prophecy that the Government had 2,800,000 pounds worth of gold bought at the old rate, and he visualised the Prime Minister having it assessed «at present-day values to enable the Reserve Bank to lend him another ten million pounds—another round of the hurdygurdy, he said. What the Government wanted was confidence. Soil Erosion Menace.

Mr J. B. F. Cotterill (Govt., Wanganui) said he had been very interested in the report of the committe set up to consider soil erosion throughout New Zealand, and he expressed the hope that the Government would adopt the committee’s recommendations. There had been a very serious erosion in the back country of Wanganui, and he was of opinion that the problem was one of the m o st important which faced the Government. Mr Cotterill also paid a tribute to the effort which had been made throughout the season to teach people to swim. One of the greatest difficulties which had been experienced in the learn-to-swim campaign tvas thte lack of proper training facilities in country centres, and he thought the Government should be prepared to assist the people in country centres to secure such facilities.

The House adjourned at 1 p.m. We all run, risks every day that are practically unavoidable. Who knows, for example, that the occupant of the next seat in tram, bus or train is not suffering from ’flu or something else that’s “catching”? And there may not bo another seat vacant for yon—so you just have to chance it. A great safeguard when travelling is to keep pipe or cigarette going. Tobacco smoke is a wonderful disinfectant. The tobacco should be cf good quality, and whether for disinfecting purposes or pure enjoyment “toasted” is the best. It’s famous for its purity, flavour and aroma, and so comparatively harmless that even over-indulgence won’t affect you. The toasting (manufacturer’s own process) is the secret. It is toasting that eliminates the nicotine and renders this beautiful tobacco safe. The five genuine toasted brands. Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshcad), Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish, Rivcrhead Gold and Desert Gold, are everywhere in evidence. Go where, you will you'll find them on sale. But be sure when buying you are getting the real thing. Imitations are worthless. R.P.9