DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 10

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

THE CLOSING SPEECHES. MINISTER IN GOOD FORM. REVENUE FROM CUSTOMS. A "POLITICAL SCAVENGER." [bt telegbaph.—special REPOP.TEB,J WELLINGTON. Tuesday. . The Address-in-Reply debate wa s resumed in the House of Representatives early this afternoon. The opening speaker, Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Marsden), condemned the diffusion of effort in secondary eduction. In Whangarei there was a movement to establish a junior high school in connection with the high school. Both these would also work together with the technical school under single control. Great economies would thus result in the cost of salaries and administration, while educational values would increase. The Minister for Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, remarked upon the diversity of opinions among Liberal members npon the various items mentioned in the no-con-fidenco amendment. The member for Dunedin South, Mr. T. K. Sidey, had complained that customs taxation pressed hardly upon the poorer section of the people, but the member for Wanganui, Mr. W. A. Veitch, complained that the Government was not giving sufficient help to local industries. The Minister went on to defend the Government's customs policy and showed that the increase of £1,738,000 in customs revenue last year was accounted for mainly by the increase of £8,000,000 in imports, for which adjustments could not possibly be made beforehand, while the goods which produced most of the increased revenue were alcoholic liquors £445,000, motor-Cars and tyres £383,170, jewellery and fancy goods £43,000, tobacco £65,000, wearing apparel and textiles over £500,000. Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino): What about sewing machines and tools ? The Minister replied that undoubtedly some such necessaries had to bear a burden of duty, but they were infinitesimal compared with the articles he had mentioned. So far as wearing apparel was concerned, the member for Waneanui had talked of assistance for the Wanganui Woollen Mills. To do what he suggested would require heavy duties and large bounties from the public funds. Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton): You increased the duty on cotton fabrics. The Minister: Clothing and textiles are mixed up in the return, but I am assured that the bulk of the duty is on woollen goods. Agricultural Banks.

[Replying to a statement by Mr. E. A. Ransom Tahiatua), tho Minister 3»id the Government had removed more taxation from the small primary producer than its predecessors.

Continuing, Mr. McLeod condemned the Liberals' demand for agricultural banks as impossible to concede. He said he approved of the idea that the farmers should make their greatest asset the land into a bank, but the short-dated mortgage system in New Zealand was a big obstacle in the way. The Government had steadfastly refused to put the credit of the State behind banks over which it had no control, and ifc would not agree that the profits of the banks should be free of income tax. The whole thing seemed to him merely vote-catching. A State-guaranteed borrowing scheme would simply add to the difficulties which the farmers had encountered, owing to the fondness of investors for local body debentures. In any event agricultural banks could not meet all the farmers' needs for many years to come.

The Minister referred to the member for Stratford, Mr. R. Masters, as the Liberal Party's "political scavenger." "He has dragged up the cement business, Muir's Reefs, and the Mount Pisa run," he said, "and, when what he says is denied he immediately shifts his ground and denies what is alleged against him. He has brought on to.the floor of the House that wretched and contemptible religious controversy and tries to batten it on to the Reform Party." "Playing With the Country." In discussing some of Mr. Masters' statements Mr. McLeod said the Farmers' Union was simply playing with the country and itself when pretending to represent the farmers as a body. When the farmers were really organised they would be entitled to every respect.

Respecting the statement that mortgages aggregated some £248,000,000, the Minister said he estimated that at least 25 Eer cent, of this sum had been paid off. lany of the mortgages were "table" mortgages, providing for the gradual repayment of principal and it was the custom to reduce the amount of short-dated mortgages in the same way, though they were registered at their full amount until expiry. Mr. L. Mcllvride (Napier) entered into a long argument to prove that higher wages would stimulate production and national prosperity. He contended that workers and their families were forced to go on short rations and the restriction of purchases involved affected the farmer, the manufacturer, and city business generally. The Singapore Base. Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata) entered into a general defence of what New Zealand was doing at Wembley. He went on to a dissertation on naval policy with special reference to the Singapore Base scheme and its abandonment by the British Government. He-expressed pain amid derisive Labour " Hear, hear's" at the congratulatory telegram sent by the New Zealand Labour Party to the British Government when the scheme was abandoned. "I do not question the loyalty of the British Government," declared Mr. Harris. A Labour Member (in surprise): Why not ? Mr. Harris: The present Prime Minister of Britain was a pacifist during the war. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. Holland): A patriot and a credit to the British nation. Mr. Harris: -Now, sir, I want to go on to another matter. Mr. Holland (ironically): I have spoken. Mr. _ Harris' conclusion had to do with Imperial preference. Mr. A. Bell (Bay of Islands) was the next speaker, ar.d then came Mr. J. C. Eoiicstpn '(Waitomo), who ; rged more money should be provided to meet the genuine needs of the man on the land. The case of the employees of the Colonial Sugar Company who would' lose their jobs by, the closing of the refinery at Chelsea, Auckland, was put briefly M»*. •'• ■'•• N *- (Paiiiierstoh)', who rend, the text of the resolution passed at a meeting of the workers concerned. This showed, said Mr. Nash, that the report circulated last session that the employees were against the retention of the duty on refined sugar was ill-founded 1 . It'also showed that the Government was'""more concerned about the welfare of these workers and their families than the Labour and Liberal Parties. (Labour laughter.) Mr. Nasli was the last speaker on Mr Wilford's amendment, and the Leader of the Opposition not exercising his right to reply, a division was taken. The amendment was defeated bv,;57 votes to 33 Mr. J. Bitchener (Waitaki) briefly replied, as mover of the Address, which was carried on the voices. The. debate thus collapsed after eight days of talking. Mr. Massey moved to introduce certain Government business tomorrow and the House adjourned on his motion at 11.5.