GOVERNMENT SPEAKERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 13

GOVERNMENT SPEAKERS

SUCCESSION IN DEBATE LIVING WITHIN MEANS ASSISTANCE TO INDUSTRIES [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION"] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Addrcss-in-Reply debate was continued in the House of Representatives to-day after Mr. P. Eraser had read the Labour statement of withdrawal. The .Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, said the Labour Party had been criticising the Government all round the country, yet in the House, which was the place to do it and where criticism could be answered, it was going to keep silent. The Government had laid down a policy which it estimated would take four years to work out. Tho country had to live within its means. The unemployment problem was improving, but it would never do if tho Government fixed standard rates of pay for the unemployed, as the position would never be cured. If unemployment payments were raised to £2 10s a week, it would mean that the present unemployment taxation would have to be doubled. Public Works Policy

Public works were being carried on according to the resources of the country. The Government could not take any short cuts in dealing with currency matters, and in a matter of that sort it was always wise to steer a safe course.

Mr. W. A. Veitch (Independent— Wanganui) thought people were unnecessarily taxed. He thought the unemployment levy could be eliminated and the wage tax reduced to 9d in the pound. Ho criticised raising the exchange rate, which kept up false land values.

Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Government — Riccarton) said if the secondary industries were not doing well, it was the fault of the industries themselves. They had the benefit of the exchange rate, and everywhere he went he heard praise for the Government. In fact, manufacturers appreciated the Government more than the farmers, and yet it was supposed to be a farmers' Government. He urged the removal of the embargo on stud stock from Britain. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Government — Central Otago) thanked the Government for the assistance given to the goldmining industry. Its efforts were appreciated by miners in Central Otago. Supporting Local Industries

Mr. H. Holland (Government — Christchurch North) said local industries should be supported, as that was an excellent way to absorb a large number of unemployed. In company with other members, he recently visited many factories and was much impressed with the quality of the goods manufactured in the Dominion.

Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Government — Waitomo) commended the benefits conferred on building and allied trades by tho No. 10 scheme. He would like to see the tourist business handed over to overseas traffic concerns. New Zealand would save £BO,OOO to £90,000 a year and would attract five times as many tourists.

The Hon. A. D. McLeod (Government —Wairarapa) said the Labour Party's policy consisted of nothing more than generalities bound up with some extraordinary monetary system. Promises had been made on the same lines as promises made by Labour parties in England and Australia. In both cases the promises had not been fulfilled, and the electors had given their verdict at the following election. The Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, said he did not know why the Labour Party wanted the Government's policy, when it had been criticising it all the recess. Ho knew there was trouble in the mining industry, but the trouble was that there were too many mines. He believed that the State mine was unique in that not a man had been dismissed during the slump. Work had been rationed among them. It was his intention to introduce a comprehensive bill regarding the mining industry, and he knew that members of the Labour Party v who were practical miners would support the bill. The debate was adjourned.

PRICE OF FERTILISER MINISTER PROPOSES ACTION SALES AT £4 3s 6d A TON [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday "If any fertiliser is sold at £4 3s 6d a ton I propose to take action straight away," said the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, this evening, when asked whether any development had occurred regarding the breakdown of negotiations between tho Government and the fertiliser companies regarding the amount of the subsidy. "If farmers are. wise and take heed of my statement, they will not purchase at that price," said tho Minister.

ONEKAKA IRON STATE BOUNTY OF £1389 [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL BEPORTER] WELLINGTON. Wednesday A bounty amounting to £1.389 was paid by the Government to the joint receivers of tho Onckaka Iron and Steel Company, Limited, for the year ended March 31 last, according to a return tabled in the House of Representatives to-day. The amount of pig iron in respect to which the bounty was paid was 1736 tons. Bounties previously paid to the company or the receivers amounted to £41,014, in respect of 33,946 tons of pig iron.