A USEFUL SPEECH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 6

A USEFUL SPEECH

Mr W. A. Veitch, M.P. for Wanganui, is 'certainly entitled to share in the honours of the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives. His speech yesterday was listened to on all sides with the closest attention, and this it merited. Logically constructed, moderately phrased, and earnestly spoken, it was a deliverance from a Labour member which is calculated to make a good impression. Mr Veitch indulged in no fireworks or heroics, no demagogic denunciations of Capital ot the soap-box-orator variety, no claim that Society should be turned upside down or inside out, or that the workers should be presented with the moon. And because Mr Veitch’s speech was not immoderate it was effective. He warned the Government that if any Customs duties are to be reduced with the idea of lessening the cost of living, care must at the same time be taken to see that the remissions reach the public. He spoke of the evils of monopoly both in relation to land and to commerce. He warned trades unionists against over-throwing the Arbitration Act, which they may yet require more than ever as a protection against the lowering of wages. He asked for a Board of Industrial Investigation, to work in connection with the Labour Department and the Arbitration Court, in order to advise the Court and the Government concerning the fluctuating circumstances bearing upon economic questions. He deprecated the “ Reform” attack upon the Public Trust Office, declaring that all the legal work of that institution and of the Advances Department should be made as cheap as possible to clients. Mr Veitch does not forget that while ho is a nominee of the Labour party he is also one of the representatives of tho whole of the people, and in referring to the perpetual Freehold cry of tho self-styled “Reformers,” he reminded the House that many a struggling farmer who is nominally a freeholder is nevertheless the slave of tho money-lender. Me pays interest instead of rent —that is all. With regard to the Legislative Council Bill, Mr Veitch said he was prepared to support tho abolition of the Upper House, but failing such a proposal lie would vote for the Bill, principally because it introduces an electoral reform which he hopes to see applied later to the House of Representatives. And tho member for Wanganui pointed this observation very neatly by directing attention to tho gross over-representation of squattocracy in tho present House. All of his points Mr Veitch made by means of logical reasoning, and delivered them quite dispassionately and evidently without any desire to make party capital. His references to the expeditionary force, the recent loan, and the question of immigration were nevertheless spoken with conviction, ami must be regarded as generally fortifying the damaging criticism which "Reform” is at present undergoing.