THIRD READING DEBATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 10

THIRD READING DEBATE

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

On the third reading of the bilL .Mr A. 11. Hindmar&h (Wellington South) expressed regret that the ArbiLation Court had been attacked by the employers because it had given one just decisions. The court had taken into account when it was fixing- wages that rent and food prices had been steadily going up. II«» commented on the fact that the salary of ,£3OO paid by the State to the employers representative on the Arbitration Couit was Supplemented to to.d extent. “7 the Employers’ Federation. This mate tho position worth fighting for, and worth holding. He claimed that Mr Duthio was,.driven off the bench to make way tor Mr Pryor because during hia term of office several awards had been made which the employers did not ll *Mr G. Witty ißiccarton) complained that members on bis side of the Mouse had not been so well treaty by the IsaUonal Government as they had tho right to expect., „ Many papers which had been promised them had not- been, lam. on the table of tho House. , This was particularly, duo to the Prime Minister’s wh«at transactions. rh© public had the right to know all the facte. Mr J. Anstey 'Waitaki) said that notwithstanding the statement ot* the Prime Minister that wheat transactions had been satisfactory to all concerned, he (Mr Amstey) could not but think that they had been absolutely disastrous. If they were not, why was there a loss of some ,693,000? Mr Massey: "Oh! what nonsense! Mr Anstey; "It is not nonsense. Why else should there bo a vote of -£93,000 in the Appropriation Bill to cover me .oss' J ” The Government's present policy was putting wheat-growers and millers in such a position that many of them would bo forced into bankruptcy. The public hod gained nothing in the way of cheap bread, and in addition one small section of the community had been practically ruined. . „ Air L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) said that several of those who were complaining now regarding their losses in wheat were really suffering from the effects ot their own speculation. He had no sympathy for the losses of any such person. He hoped they would always have their fingers burnt. He expressed tho utmost astonishment at tho revelations made by the hon. member for Wellington South regarding tho Arbitration Court. It was not a right and a square thing that any membei of thei court bench should receive a subsidy , from any party. With regard to the drink problem he wished to ira pi<ess upon the Government that thb system of treating should ho put down. If the country wore to do its utmost during a time of war "shouting ’ should be restricted. He advocated the establishment of universal drill for all males between the ages of 18 and 55, and for all others of greater age who wished tej submit to drill. Mr T. M. Wilford (Butt) also referred to the Arbitration Court incident. At present the system of arriving at arbitration awards was wrong from beginning to end. He suggested that the Dominion should be divided into as many districts as there were, trades —that was one Conciliation Commissioner for the whole of New Zealand should be appointed for each trade. These men would become experts in their trade. It would require only four or five Commissioners altogether. When a dispute arose the Commissioner would preside, having with him a representative of tho

employers and employees respectively. If an agreement could not be comp to the piaco of tho Commissioner would be taken by a Supreme Court judge. ' Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland Central) urged that sufficient had not been done to ameliorate the lot of the masses of, the people. He had a word to say in 1 favour of the press. Ho thought veiy 1 faithful and kindly reports had been, 'furnished of the doings of Parliament during tho session. Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) spoke on tho. wheat question. He contended that because of a mistake of a million of bushels in the statistical branch the people had to pay an inordinate price jor bread. The millers had no justification in view of the profits they had already made to ask now that there should bo no embargo on export. The facts undoubtedly showed that there was no shortage, but a icaaonable carry-over of wheat. He went on to refer to the vicious attempt which had been madej co interfere with factory Act legislaTon."' It was proposed to have young. people working 111 hours: a day for, sis | flays a week without a holiday. The Prime Minister said that the hon member was particularly clever in misrepresentation. All that the House had ■been asked to do ■ was to allow a Southland company engaged in the production of condensed milk to work six full days with overtime pay if required on account of a delay in the importation o. machinery. As to the wheat business there was no mistake in the Statistical i/epartment. The estimates of rropivere wrong. The Canterbury ana North Otago people made a mistake so that | one million and'a-half or two million, oushels more wheat were obtained than nad been expected. According to the statistics there was such a small margin that in the interests of the publn he did not dare, declare the position, tfs must say that the member, for Lyttelton was the most ungrateful member lenresenting Labour he had met in his life. There had been a loss of £.i,bol to the State through importations, but the people had benefited. At the pre sent time the Government held stocks in Canada, which it was expected would within a short period materially increase Al? 1 !!. G. EH (Christchurch South) mentioned forest - reserves, slot telephones, the parcel post other v™,‘?i t ters. Ho said he thought there should be a redistribution of portfolios in order, to give the Liberate a larger shar© of Xhe iiuo° rtant portfolios.' - > When the House reassembled after the dinner adjournment the Pn me ■ Minister intimated that if tho bill were not disposed of by 10.30 p.m. it would be. necessary for the House to meet agai in the morning. He dad not wish to burke discussion, but he thought it was only fair to intimate the position to hon. members; a« dt would be inconvenient \>r, many of them to remain. SYSTEM OF MEAT EXPORT. Mr P. C. Webb (Grey), who continued the debate, criticised the system; of exporting frozen and chilled meat frooi the Dominion. It was unfair that tho best of the Dominion’s meat was sent to other countries before the needs of the people in New- Zealand were satisfied. It the present system were persisted in for another six months 10 to 20 per cent, of the retail butchers in the various centres would have, to go out of-, business- The Dominion Was producing abundance of Cheese and butter and exporting it, but the people of the Dominion itself could not get butter or cheese. Ho strongly advised the Government* to put down the exploitation which was 1 , undoubtedly taking place. If it did not* do so , the result would be seen in. the recruiting figures. The workers of the Dominion would not allow their, sons to enlist so long as they were being exiploited by the rich landowners and merchants. The destiny of the Empire was bound up with the unity,of the people, but such unity could not exist under such conditions as now obtained.

Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn) dwelt at considerable length on tho part the Socialists of Great Britain had taken in the defence of the Empire. He deprecated the propaganda of the peace party --cheerful idiots who did not see that, this was no time for the propagation of their ideals, no matter how lofty they might be in theory. Tho British nation was a volunteer nation, and he hoped there would be no interference with the voluntary system." There was no finer ideal for a young man who was able to go than for him to take his place at the’ front in order that those brave fellows who had already gone should not unduly risk their lives through want of help. He wished to impress on the electors of tho Dominion that whatever disabilities they suffered under, whether from high prices or any other cause they had the political liberty to remedy these grievances by casting thefir votes in the proper way at tho elections. Tho men who wont to the front at the beginning, of the war were bravo men, but those who \were volunteering now had his heartiest admiration; as they had had brought home , to them with ghastly vividness what they were going to face. They knew that the chances .were that they wooldi he dead men or sorely disabled.

Mr Wilford: “They are men who have thought it out." ’ Mr Payne said that the duty of every young man lay at the front, and no one could do anything but admire tho ultrabravery of . the young men now offering their services. .He deprecated talk ot conscription—which would never be needed in the Empire—as injurious to the military movement which was so necessary to the safety of tho - British race.

Mr R. Fletcher (Wellington Central) expressed regret that the industrial Conciliation and Arbitration. Amendment Bill, dealing with tho situation' oh the waterfronts, had not been passed. He suggested that as legislation could not be introduced until next session, '.he Prime Minister and Sir Joseph, Ward should offer their services as arbitrators. Such an offer would be gratefully received and would probably go a long way towards settling the troubles which had arisen on the waterfronts.

Dr H. T. J. Thacker' (Christchursh East) wished to know what was going to take place at the great Imperial Conference which would shortly take place in London.' They knew who the Dominion’s representatives would be,' but they did nat know what subjects they would have to discuss. The subject of special interest to the 1 Dominion was the destiny of tho Pacific, which in the future would bo the storm centre of the world. They might speak of the yellow peril and the ccolie problem, but. they were glad to think that in time of stress the colourea races of the Pacific stood by the Empire. (Hear, hear.) Coming back to meal affairs, he advocated the speedy completion of .the South Island Main Trunk lino to Port Underwood, and the establishment of a State ferry service ' between that point and Wellington. As a port Lyttelton was a delusion and a snare—(laughter)—and the country would never go ahead fast enough until there was better communication between the islands than that by way of Lyttelton, and Wellington.