GOVERNMENT ATTACKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 15

GOVERNMENT ATTACKED

MR. FLETCHER'S POSITION.

REASONS FOR HIS CHANGE.

"POLICY OF INACTIVITY."

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday

" No. longer do I propose to take the responsibility for this policy of inactivity and that is tho reason why I have taken steps to remove myself from the party," said Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) in making his first speech as an Independent member in the House this evening.

Mr. Fletcher was elected as a United Party member and sat on the Government benches last session, but he has shifted to an Independent bench this session.

Mr. Fletcher referred to "a remarkable statement " made by a Minister of the Crown during the Parnell by-election to tho effect that a deficit in the national accounts had been converted into a credit. Tho Government was simply painting the clouds with moonshine. Further. Mr. Fletcher said a more dastardly attack on the national credit had never been made than tho recent statement of the Prime Minister regarding the anticipated deficit of £3,000,000. This year the Prime Minister had pursued a "taihoa" policy as Minister of Lands, while on the other hand he had filled the pockets of the owners of high priced farms.

Mr. Fletcher blamed the Treasury officials for not knowing the stalo of the London money market in recent negotiations. "Did they know anything about the state of the London market when they offered money at home at per cent, and upset tlio whole of the local body finances of this country," he asked. "I ask them this question, but I know there will bo no answer." (Laughter.) Referring to Arapuni, Mr. Fletcher said that 150 men had been thrown out of work there. "It will bo remembered by members of this House that last year I pleaded with the Government to get experts on the job," he said. "We had promises that the Government had given authority for experts to bo called in. If they had got them, wo would now have known the worst or the best about Arapuni and whether Arapuni could have been saved or whether it had to be scrapped. Then we would have been in a position to go on with the industry." Mr. Fletcher added that it was going to bo impossible to start any new industries in Auckland requiring any large amount of power. This would contribute to unemployment in the country. "These aro a few reasons why there is a good deal of unemployment. You can have all the schemes under heaven and all the policy you like, but it is no good if you do not put them into operation," he said. "It is a question of getting on with the job." lie considered that the new Minister of. Lands, whom he hoped was strong enough to carry out liis policy, should be given six months in which to place men on land that required to be broken in.

Mr. Fletcher believed Parliament could have done the job given to the Railway Commission set -up a fortnight before the House sat. He contended the commission had simply been set up to "bunk" discussion. A man of tho qualifications of tho Hon. W. B. Taverner, recently Minister of Railways, should have been able to show where some of the mess was. So should the general manager. " I have taken steps to remove myself fnSm the Government benches," he said. " No longer do I propose to take the responsibility for this policy of inactivity." f, POSTPONING THE CENSUS. REASONS OF ECONOMY. INTENTIONS OF GOVERNMENT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] . WELLINGTON, Friday. It is anticipated that as an economy measure the Government will decide to dispense with the quinquennial census due to bo taken next year, or that at any rate the census will be postponed until tho financial outlook has improved. No official announcement 011 the subject has yet been made, but it is believed tho decision has been agreed to. GOOD MAIDEN SPEECH. MR. NASH CONGRATULATED. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Making his maiden speech in the House of Representatives this evening, Mr. Walter Nash, Labour member for Hutt, revealed himself as a forceful and thoughtful speaker. Mr. Nash discussed principally the unemployment position and its relation to industry. His delivery was clear, easy and fluent and denoted tho mind of the keen student of affairs. On resuming his seat Mr. Nash \ was accorded a warm burst of applause and several members from other sides of the Houso later tendered their congratulations to, him. Tho present Parliament is not strong in oratory and Mr. Nash immediately established his right to be regarded as ono of. its best debaters. It would not bo surprising to behold him 0110 day as leader of his party, for his capacity was well provod beforo he entered tho House.