MORE CRITICISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 13

MORE CRITICISM

NO LABOUR SPEAKERS

AMENDMENT DEFEATED ADJOURNMENT OF DEBATE [BY TELEGRAFH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WE L LIN (»TO X, Wcdnrhda y Opposition speakers alone took part in the discussion on the amendment to the Industrial Efficiency Bill in the House to-night. They contended that a clear case had been made out for their view that the bill should be referred back to the Government for re*r construction, but after six speeches, all more or less in the same vein, the amendment was lost on a division by *l2 votes to 17, and the debate was adjourned. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition— Central Otago) said the bill would destroy any sense of security in industry. Under its provisions the Government could not hope for the goodwill of those engaged in industrial development. Perhaps some industries saw the chance to eliminate competition and fix prices, but that was a short-sighted attitude. If the bill was delayed and examined thoroughly by exjxrts it would probably be far moro acceptable next year. The Hammer and Sickle "This bill would be complete if it bore the insignia of the hammer and sickle,'' said Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo). "The small man will have no chance under this sort of legislation. Industry will simply become the tool of big capital. The bill itself is full of compulsions. The high standard of living which the people of the Empire can'claim was the result of the genius of our industrialists operating with freedom, but now these men are to he put in shackles." Mr. H. S. S. Kvle (Opposition—Riccarton) attacked the Government on its policy of substituting committees, advisory councils, committees of inquiry. tribunals and now—under the bill —a bureau for the boards appointed by the late Government. Almost every bill that appeared set up a new board, but under a different name. The country ought to be informotl that the very men who comprised the Unemployment Board were now employed in the Labour Department. 'J ho Government's abuse of the last Government for its boards had helped to win the election for Labour, but the Government did not tell the people that it had retained in its service all the members of the Unemployment Board. Mr. Kyle urged the postponement of the bill in view of the opposition that had been hoard in various parts of the country. . " They Oppose Everything "

The Minister: There has been no opposition. Mr. Kyle: The Auckland Chamber of Commerce, for one. opposes it. Mr. Sullivan: They oppose everything. " There have been protests against the bill from one end of the country to the other." said Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford). " In the first place manufacturers' organisations probably saw something which they thought might be to their advantage, but individual manufacturers have since been strenuous in their opposition to the bill."

The Prime Minister, Mr. Savage: They have not said that to me. Mr. Poison said he had it on reliable authority that at a recent meeting in Auckland about 90 out of 100 manufacturers present had opposed the bill and had telegraphed their views to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Industries and Commerce. Mr. F. W. Schramm (Government — Auckland East): They weren't manufacturers. They were lawyers. Driving Away Capital One result of the proposed legislation would be to scare away capital, Mr. Poison continued. Overseas investors had already started to take their capital out of the country, and the bill would accelerate the process. It was difficult to understand how the Government came to produce such a plan.

Mr. H. M. Christie (Government — Waipawa): We got it from the last Government. Mr. Poison: There is only one country where a similar plan operates and that is Germany. Mr. J. Thorn (Government — Thames^: It was Russia last night. The Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong: The Minister is going to grow a Hitler moustache. Mr. Poison: He would probably be better looking if he did. There were dangerous provisions in the bill regarding tariffs and import embargoes, Mr. Poison added. Such matters should not be relegated to any bureau or board, but should be dealt with only by Parliament. At the conclusion of Mr. Poison's speech a division was called for on the Opposition amendment to have the bill referred back to the Government for reconstruction. The amendment was lost by 42 votes to 17.