ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8481, 16 July 1913, Page 8

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

MR HIKE AND A SQUARE DEAL. Mr J. B. Hine (Stratford), resuming the debate on the Address-in-Re-ply, said he could not agree with the members of the other side when they said the Governor’s Speech was bare. Ho dealt with the question of West Coast (Taranaki) leases, and said the desire of the Commission set up was to do the best in the interests of the country and not fop individuals interested. The member for Taranaki had put the matter in the right light, and ho \Vas glad that the Government were taking up the attitude that the country ought to ho considered as well as the owners. Mr Isitt: The square deal? Mr Hine: If-the member for Christchurch North oomes this side of the House he will get a square deal. 1 always thought ho was an independent. I am of opinion that he is a strong party man. Mr Isitt: I always have been. Mr Hine said ho hoped that closer settlement would go on oven still more with tho present Government. An Opposition member: Still loss. “DON’T TALK NONSENSE!” Mr Hine said that when the Government had got ever the liability left tiiem Mr Russell: Don’t talk nonsense. Mr Hine said ho was not talking nonsense. Ho hoped tho Government would spend some money on reading tho baokblocks. Mr Russell: Tho Mackenzie Government spent more money on tho backblocks than this Government did last year. Mr Hine; Don’t mis up the Governments.

Mr Hino said ho wanted to see tno Govemmcnt progress in this matter, “‘and,” added the member for Stratford, '“if they don’t progress, they

won’t retain me in their fold.” He thought the Government should place nurses in the backblocks.

Mr Russell: The- past Government carried that out. Mr Hino considered that taxation ’was on tho wrong basis. It ought to bo on incomes and accumulated wealth. STARTED BADLY. Dealing with finance, tho member 'said this year would ho the test of the Government's capabilities. Mr Myers: Tho first quarter has ’started very badly. Mr Hino: Quarters vary. Mr Hino said that tho Massey Go'vernment had had to practically shut ■down nr: public works owing to the istato of tho finances left by tho Mac[kenzio Government. Mr Russell: How is it that you have ! spent more on public works this year I than was spent last year ? Mr Hino said that there was available for public works when tho present Government came into power £1,158,000, and commitments totalled £1.835.000. Mr Russell: Yes, including the cost 'of the Otira tunnel, which will take three years to build. “ADDRESS THE CHAIR I” Air Hino next dealt with native lands. He wanted to seo the native placed on tho same footing as the European. He hoped that the Native Land Bill would give full civic rights to the Maoris, and that the latter should accept their full responsibilities. In reply to a number of Opposition .'interjections, Mr Hino said that he hardly know bow to reply to tho Opposition. If they had a leader he would be able to address them.

Mr Speaker: I must remind the Iron, gentleman that ho must_ address the ichair, not members on either side of the House. (Loud laughter.) Dealing with labour, Mr Hin© suggested that the limited number of workers in a district who could form a union should bo altered so that a majority of the employees should have tho say whether or. not a union was to be formed. As far as advances to settlers wero concerned, Mr Hino asserted that tho lejrislstion wihich had been passed had 'driven the largo money-lending insti-. tutions out of tho country, and now it was very hard for settlors* to get i money oven from the Government. He i could quote cases whero settlers had paid 8 and 9 per cent, for money they needed, and had thereby tied themselves up for years to come. Ho suggested that tho Government should find the money somehow to avoid these high rates to settlers, and so help on \ tho settlement of the Dominion.