PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9718, 21 July 1917, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S SITTING HOUSE GF REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. Tho House of Representatives mot at 2.30 p.m., the Speaker (tho Hon. Sir FW. Lang) in tho chair. BILLS INTRODUCED. Leave was given to Mr A. H. Hindmarsh to bring in the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill. The Bill was read a first time. The Maori War Medal Bill was introduced by Mr E. A. Wright, and read a first time. SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENT NHW FORM OF LAND BALLOT ■SUGGESTED. At f. 22 p.m.-fhe debate on the Ad-dress-in-Keply was continued by Mr tilt. Sykes (Masterton). He claimed that tho farmers of the Wairarapa had given of their wealth and of their sons for the war as freely as any other section o? the community; and he believed that that wa« true of the farmers throughout the Dominion. (Hear, near.) While the excess profits tax was perfect in theory, it was*, he contended, bad in practice; and lie cited a number of cases showing the unequal operation of the tax on men of substantially equal incomes. An export: tax had been suggested as an alternative to the excess profits tax, but an export, tax would not touch the very largo quantity of wool, meat, and dairy produce, consumed locally, which had been raised in price by the war just as much as the produce that wag exported. An export tax, therefore, would bo no more fair and lust than the excess profits tax. He that the fairest tax was a graduated income tax, but the graduations should be carried much further and higher than was at present the case, so as to make the men with great wealth contribute more fully towards the war. Ho found from the return placed on tho table the other day bv the Hon. A. L. Herdman (the Minister in Charge of the Discharged Soldiers’ Department) that 339 returned soldiers, out of some 400 who had applied, had been placed on the land, and that in ah 143,534 acres had been settled. All soldiers who desired it should have an opportunity to go on to the land, but to purchase the estates that, would be required for soldier settlement after the war on ordinary lines would be quite impossible: and, therefore, h© submitted to the consideration of the Government a scheme which was discussed at the farmers’ conference hold at Marten some two or three weeks ago and unanimously approved of. The proposal was that the holdings of the country should be classified, according to their. value and their suitability for closer settlement, into divisions similar to those under tho Military iService Act. and then balloted for: the owners to be paid a reasonable price for their land m Government long-dated debentures, and each owner to be permitted to retail a portion of his property if he so desired. Ho failed to see why they should not attempt the system of compiilsipn in regard to the land as well as in regard to human life. (Hear, hear.) They had no hesitation in compelling any man to go to the front, and they should have no hesitation in seeing that all the land required for returned soldiers was compulsorily acquired at a reasonable rate and paid for in long-dated Government debentures. (Hear, hear.) SACRIFICES MUST BE MADE.

Mr Sykes strongly opposed the butterfat levy. He favoured six o’clqcJc closing. but with the uroviso that liqjior in tho case should be sold; wholesale or in bulk subject to a police order only. The loss due to early closing, ho held, should bo equally borne by tho licensee and the owner of the hotel. They should bo prepared to make the sacrifice. Others were making greater sacrifices. Some thousands had already made the supreme sacrifice; and every day hundreds wore making sacrifices similar to that made by a young professional man he knew, who. when called up, quietly locked his office duor, without a word accepted tno automatic reduction of his income from X 750 a year to 5s a day. Hear, hear.) Mr A. Harris (Waitemata): "Ho got no compensation ?”

Mr Sykes: "No compensation!” Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West); "They are getting Is id a day ia the Navy for keeping our sea routes open, and they get no compensation either.” (Hear, hear.)

Mr W. A. Veiteh (Wanganui) said that ho was astonished to find that there was a great deal of severe criticism of the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, the Minister who controlled the Board of Trade during the absence of the Plume Minister. Ho deprecated any. raising of the town against country issue in Parliament or in the country at large. But, if the country people insisted upon controlling Parliament and having everything their own wav the town people would have to raise that issue: and ho would point out that the country people had muoh more to lose by that than the town people, because it was the general opinion of the country that the day for closer settlement of land had come.

LANDHOLDERS AND WAR PROFITS. Mr Sykes had referred to the landowner’s contribution to the war, but against that they had to set the war’s contribution to the landlords; and when they put them side by side they would find that even after they had paid the buttcr-fat levy and income tax and land tax, etc., there would still be a very considerable surplus for them to invest in the war loan. The increased values of exports showed that the primary producers had done remarkably well out of the war. (Hear, hear.) According to the Minister for Agriculture the prewar price of butter was lid per lb. as against Is "d to-day, a very considerable margin of profit, notwithstanding the increased cost of production and the butter-fat levy. The farmers complained that the buttcr-fat tax benefited most of the rich. But were they entitled to exploit a man because he was wealthy? The question was one of principle. Were they to allow the primary producers to get war profits out of anybody in the country, rich or poor? The Minister referred to had done his duty in spite of tho groat outcry that arose. He had done a great act of justice to the people of tho Dominion in checking exploitation: and he, for one, honoured him, and was grateful to bim for it. The dairy farmers asked why the producers of wool and meat, etc., had not been treated in the same way; and they used that as an argument for undoing the act of iustico that hod been done in regard to bntter. His answer, and tho proper answer, to their argument, was to say that he wonld go forward, not backward on that line: and ho would tell them that he was prepared to back up any proposal to deal with the meat and tho wool people and the others in the same way. (Hear, hear.) It was especially the duty of the Government to prevent the exnloitntion of one section of the community by another. Tho butter-fat people demanded a free market for their produce; but what an outcry was raised if th» wharf labourer?, the ga? workers, the agricultural labourers, or other

workers demanded a free market for their commodity—their labour! COURAGEOUS POLICY WANTED.

Continuing after the dinner adjournment Mr V'eitch said he could not support tho amendment to the Address-iu-Repiy. If New Zealand were tu slacken olf in its supply ol reinforcements the moral effect eii other parts of tho Empire wunld be bad. He did not approve of allowing conscientious objectors to stay behind as it would mere--I,' 'bring to light conscienceless objectors. He was going to stand firmly bv tho Defence Act. The man who steed back now fearful of his electors was ns big a coward ami shirker as thre w-as in the country. There was a large amount of speculation among members alxmt settling the soldiers on the land. He had already giveu his opinion about this question. Another question, however, was what to do with A o soldiers who did not go on the land. At least about SO per cent, of the men would go elsewhere than on the land. Frpin thii example given by other countries New Zealand must give its attention to developing its industries and hero the returned soldier would opme in. The Government had no given the attention itr'should to these afterwar problems. A big question that faced tho country was how- tho costr of the war was to ba met. There was the suggestion ox hoarding up money. This was a mistake. Money should bo circulated, tho policy of tho Government should bo a courageous one and then tho country would bo ready for after war effects. Tho land of the Dominion had developed so much now that it should ho able to bear the cost of its own advancement. The land tax should bo increased on those lands that had reaped tho benefit from previous times and this could pay tho cost of further development in laud. The first necessity for advancing industries was cheap and. abundant power. New Zealand had. unlimited power at its disposal, power that required only hydro-elecrio development to turn it to use. Finally Mr Veiteh appealed on behalf of private members for right to take a really active part in the government of the country. For instance the Govment should have allowed the Industries Committee of Hie House to have met during the recess. The committee would hove done great good. "We are like a lot of dummies,” said Mr Veiteh. "For myself I claim a right to take ray share in tho government of the country.” (Applause.) A MUCH CRITICISED GOVERNMENT. Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) said that, all through the debate in progress had been a vein of discontent in members’ speeches against tho members of the Government. What National Government, however, would have been perfectly satisfactory under existing circumstances? Mr Payne: "A Labour Government.” The Government had been forced to inflict hard measures oh all classes of the community. The only wonder was that they had not been swept away 1< xxg ago. Mr Payne: "Hear, hear.” (Laughter.) Mr Wright: "In all probability every member in the House would be wiped out if wo had another election.” (Laughter.! It might be said, continued Mr Wright, that the debate in progress had been a waste of time. Mr Payne: "Its a waste of time to hear you speak." (Laughter.) Tho debate had really been a very profitable one, however. It had been a breezy debate at times. A member: "There’s a lot of wind going now.” (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Wright held thnt the allowances to the wires and children of the. Second Division should be increased. This would mean more taxation, but the money- would be found—'the country had to find it. Pensions also had to be increased. New Zealand had to come into lino with other countries. STRENGTH OF' REINFORCEMENTS.

Regarding the question as' to the strength of the reinforcements, he was firm in the opinion that the pledge of tho Dominion must be fulfilled. The Second Division would have to be cut into. There was one question, however, he would like enlightenment on. Tho original troops sent by the Dominion totalled 32,000, the reinforcements 04,000, and the casualties 26,000 for 28 months. This meant that the strength fell 1000 per month. Of this thousand a percentage went back to the front. Dr Thacker: "Sixty per cent.” In face of this, said Mr Wright, why should the Dominion have to continue sending 3200 men per month? Mr Wright spoke strongly against the penalisin'* of the wife and family of a soldier at tho front through some breach of military law on tho part of the husband. Tho nay to tho soldiers’ dependents should not be so penalised. In view of the high cost of living old pensions should bo increased. Tho pay to superannuated officers should also be increased. A MYSTERIOUS PAMPHLET. Turning to 6 o’clock closing Mr Wright said the Government had a big hurdle to get over. They should mount their horses and go for the hurdles afid go clean over the lot of them. A member: "That's what they’ll no,'

(Laughter.) Mr Wilford: "Would you suggest white horses?" (Laughter.) Mr Wright: "The Government should go tho whole hog.” ; Mr Wilford: "Tho whole hogshead.

(Laughter.) Mr Wright proceeded to quote 'iom a pamphlet which ho said dealt with the evils of drink. These were given to tho soldiers. ... , A member: "Who printed the pamphlet?’' „ , Mr Wright: "It’s given to the soldiers.” , Dr Thacker: “Why don’t you read the pamphlet from the beginning.” Mr Wright: "I have read tho port giving advice to soldiers.” Dr Thacker: "Read it from the commencement.” Mr Wright eventually consented to read it from the start. The introduction read: "Advice to soldiers on venereal disease.” , Dr Til acker : "Why there s not a word about liquor in it." Mr Wright added that the people should be given the opportunity of a referendum on G o’clock closing. VARIOUS PROBLEMS.

Mr C. J. Talbot (Temuka) expressed his gratification at tho setting up by the Prime Minister of a committee to go into the meat trust question. The farmer had to bo protected. The farmers had to co-operate and secure again the cooperation of the Government, otherwise they would bo killed by the trusts and the shipping rings. The Government had not received tho representation they should on tho Efficiency Board. "When the Efficiency Board’s reports came along they would bo shown to members in the House Tho Government should take members into its confidence on these end other matters. More attention should have been paid to National Service Boards. Deferring to tho taxation he considered luxuries and amusements should bo taxed. The strength of tho reinforcements should be kept up. New Zealand had made a promise—which if a rash one —had - to bo kept. Tho Military Service Board should very carefully cull out all the First Division. Full attention should be paid to essential industries. When tho Second Division came tho Government had to be just in giving the dependents of married soldiers full and adequate pay. The Government should look on the dependents as their wards. The hon. member added that, having the money in the country, t!uv should now pav for the war as much as they possibly could, instead of passing the burden on to posterity. Ho cot regard that as taking capital

out of tlia country; and they could put the country in such a sound position that they would attract capital to it after the war. Ho held that the time had not yet come to tax wealth; and. .they must ask themselves could the Government use the assets of individuals to greater advantage than the individuals themselves were already doing? They should first of all get hold of as much of tbo war profits as they could, though not by the excess profits tax, and levy a heavy graduated income tax, especially oii the biggest incomes. Further, ho advocated an increase, in the graduated land tax both for revenue purposes and because he thought it would bring down the price of land and make it cheaper for soldier-settlement. (Hoar, hear.) He urged ako-that they should take over til* farms that the men called up wished t<> dispose of and settle returned soldiers on them. (Applause.) •Vt 10 p.m. Mr V. H. Reed (Bay cf Islands) moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House adjourned accordingly till 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.