SPRANG FROM NOWHERE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 15

SPRANG FROM NOWHERE

UNITED PARTY'S ORIGIN.

SPEECH BY MAORI MEMBER.

DIVERTING MAIDEN EFFORT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REFORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday

Tho few bright moments in a dull debate in tlio Houso this afternoon were provided by Mr. T. Makitanara, the new United Party member for Southern Maori. The new member did not mince his words in criticising tlio land administration of tlio Reform Government, but his many keen flashes of uative wit in countering interjections completely took tlio keen edge off his strictures, and for almost an hour a delighted Houso rocked with laughter in appreciation of the sallies of Mr. Makitanara.

Mr. Makitanara said ho was ono of tho small cogs in tho great political machino now known as tho United Party. Perhaps it would be just as well if ho explained how it was that tho present Government canio into being. "It will interest the members on tho opposite sido of the Houso to lenrn where our party sprang from," bo added. "It sprang from nowhere." (Loud laughter.) A Reform Member: That's a good one. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Thames): It will go back to the same place. The Seventy Million Policy.

Mr. Makitanara: Tho United Party rose like the phoenix from its ashes. Wo sprang from tho wish of the peoplo of this country. All tho newspapers were against us with the exception of one or two, but nevertheless wo prevailed. On tho day of tho election tho peoplo gave an emphatic and logical decision and returned tho United Party.

Mr. Makitanara said thero were three factors which had contributed toward the success of tho United Party. First there was Sir Joseph Ward, whoso personality appealed to tho people. Behind the leader there was a policy. A Reform Member: Seventy million? (Laughter.) Mr. Makitanara said tho United Party pledged itself to complete the railways and to adopt a closer land settlement policy. Tho lato Government had inflated the value of land for reasons best known to itself, with tho result that 13,000 farmers were driven off tho land.

Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston): Where did you get that from ?

Mr. Makitanara: The farmers did not walk off; they were kicked off. " Education All White Collars." The Minister ot Education, he went on, was to bo congratulated on his bold policy. Voices •. What is it'! Mr. Makitanara: It is costing this country £4,000,000 a year. Mr. iS'ash: Are you quito sure it is as much as that ? Mr. Makitanara: You should not havo asked that question. It only shows your lack of ability. (Laughter.) Mr. Speaker: Order! Mr. Makitanara: The trouble to-day is that tho young peopJo like wearing collars. (Laughter.) They don't like work. Our education policy in the past has been all white collars and stiff ones at that. (Loud laughter.) There is too much fondness for jazz. (Laughter.) Continuing, Air. Makitanaia said he was in favour of immigration.

A .Reform Member: Splendid. (Laughter.) Air. Alakitanara said he was in favour of immigration only if the country could absorb the additional population. It had been suggested that the present Government should adopt the policy of its predecessors, but ho intended to stand or fall by the policy enunciated by Sir Joseph Ward [trior to tho election. People Waiting lor Actions.

"We are not going to commit political suicide," he added. "We have a duty to perform and the people are waiting for us to give effect to our policy." When tho Reform Party came into power the Maori became a nonentity and the Crown the sole purchaser, valuer and owner of the land. The natives had been prevented from selling land ( at their own prices. Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) : Quite right, too. Mr. Alakitanara: A nice thing for a Britisher. Where is your fair play?

Mr. Speaker: Order! Order! Rather to tho disappointment of members Mr. Alakitanara concluded in quieter vein, harking back to the days of Edward Gibbon Wakefield's arrival in New Zealand and reading extracts from the Treaty of Waitangi for the edification of members In that way ho used up his hour, but was granted an extension of time, and when he concluded he was awarded an exceptionallv generous round of applause in appreciation of tho diverting nature of his maiden effort.

QUESTION OF IDENTITY.

TRANSPORT BOARD CHAIRMAN [by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON, Friday. I, nnieal laughter from tho Government benches greeted notice of a question given bv Mr. H. S. Kyle (Ricearton) in the House this afternoon. Air. Kyle's question, addressed to tho Prime Alinister, Sir Joseph Ward, was as follows: " Whether the Air. R. Masters, recently appointed chairman of the Transport Board, is the same Mr. R. M; ,s . tp " who was formerly chairman of the United Party."