ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10638, 10 July 1920, Page 9

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

FURTHER. SPEECHES. ' The debate on the Address-in-Ecply was resumed by -Mr S. G. Smith (Taranaki). Mr Smith said that at the last general election he stood aa an Independent because ho thought tho Dominion would he served by the best elements of the country getting together. He thought the day had come when the old party system should be done away with.. He had seen politicians vote for party, even though they went against the measure in question. Ho could not support or link up with the official Labour party, as at present constituted. because ho did not bolievo that the only way to progress was by ievolutionary international Socialism. Ho had told his supporters that if ho were placed in tho position of having to vote for either Liberal or Reform he would vote for the lesser evil —Likeial.' He would support any motion ho favoured if the Labour party introduced it, hilt that would not mean a decision to follow the Labour chairman’s leadership. The housing problem was very acute in New Plymouth. People were living in dressing-rooms, shacks on tho beach, and some in a drill shed. Although the Housing Aot was passed last year, not a single house had been built in New Plymouth. A builder was willing to build houses in New Plymouth, but the Government said they wanted ' bondsmen. ' Who would go bandsman for a contractor in days when no contractor could guarantee to fulfil any job? Shortage o*' cement was a serious matter to New Plymouth, and the ■Government might have done more in ithe matter. Mr Massey said the companies were now turning out large quantities of cement. Mr Smith urged the. Government to do more to foster tho oil industry and the ironsand industry. He would not discuss the Governor’s Speech; it had been tom.to shreds. Ho was anxious to hear tho Government policy, and said he was sure that members would support measures that would make for progress. MILITARISM DEPRECATED. Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha) complained of Ministerial neglect of the South Island in the matter of public works, and more especially in regard to hydroelectric) development. Two or threo schemes, he said, were under way in the North Island, but nothing was being dona in tho South. To promote scientific research, he suggested that all industrial concerns, according to their means, should he compelled to employ one or more research workers; and that there should also bo- a research laboratory in each of the four centres. Referring to the representation question, the hon. member recognised the mechanical perfection of the proportional representation system. But he argued that under that system it would be difficult, if not impossible, to secure majority government in the House; and declared that, in spite of its obvious imperfections, tho x present system, as a working system, was tho best. Remarks by Mr Malcolm on the subject of New Zealand defence are reported elsewhere in this issue. THE FLAG OP LIBERALISM. Mr W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) said ho wished to speak more in sorrow than in anger of his friends on the left, whom no might call the recalcitrants. Ho had been connected with tho Liberal party since the days of Grey and down through the days of Ballanc© and Seddon to the present time. If a bettor flag than that of Liberalism could bo found to fight under he would like to hoar of lit. He mentioned some of tho progressive measures by the Liberals, and said that the land policy of the party had out up tho land and made tho country progressive and prosperous. To hear the Labour people, one would think New Zealand v was the most downtrodden country in the world, but New Zealanders were too independent to be trampled on. He denied there was a go-slow policy on the part of tho working men in this country. ( After speaking at length on matters of particular interest to tho back districts, Mr Jennings said he believed the political ideal of the people of Now Zealand was in tho direction of Liberalism, and that they would come hack to tho policy of tho great Liberal leaders. If the Government brought in good measures, they would not find tho member for Waitomo a hareh critic. DISCOURAGING’ HEWERS OF COAL. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) reminded tho Houso that a broad view of affairs was needed, and not only the interests of tho producer ought to be attended to. Tho visit of tho Prince of Wales was an excellent thing, and had created m bond which ha hoped would never bo severed. His Royal Highncfß had been one of tho best advance agents England bad over sent ns.

Ho was every inch a man, and, while holding a high position, .was a Democrat. The Government had not done all possible 1o got coal for tho People of New Zealand. Ihey had closed tho Seddonvillo mine. Mr Alassey; It is worked out! Mr Witty: No. The West Coast was teeming with coal, and everything was done to block tho minors from hewing it. Everything was done to discourage the miners. One naturally thought tho miners must be queer fellows not to work wheq. they needed money to live on, but ho had seen the surroundings at some of tho mining towns, and he would not woman to live in them. The conditions were disgraceful, and there were no gardens r for the men to employ their spare | time in. Miners should be given decent surroundings to live in. _ } PENALISING THE IMPROVER. ' , Dealing with land valuations, Air | Witty called attention to the fact that in has district land worked by small ‘ men and properly cultivated was vaired very highly as unimproved land, ■ while hotter land alongside, field nutted in large blocks, was valued at ‘ only one-third the unimproved value of the small blocks. That, he declared. ‘ was penalising tho man who was unproving, and it should be stopped. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the oosa ■ of living, he stated, the Government . bad not dona thei right thing in regard to coal, butter, wheat, meat, or any- , thing else practically, to keep down ■ prices; and as for tho shipping diih- , unity, tho Government during tho war t and since had bought ‘ the U.S.S Co. ‘ four or five times over in freights. ■, (Hear, hear.) Ho made a strong plea /ox more and better schools for the , back blocks, and bettor pay and better houses 1 for teachers, in order to get ! the greater number of teachers who were wanted. Tho workers generally required more and bettor houses, but the Government was not going the right way about it; just as they had not gone tho right way about putting the soldiers on the land. COST OP LIVING AND OGRE. Mr H. Atmoro (Nelson) maintained t that profiteering was nob a twentieth t rate cause of the high cost of living. There undoubtedly was profiteering, and it should bo prevented, as far, as ; possible, but the real cause of tho prevailing high prices was short production. The absolutely essential thing though that brought ono up against one’s Labour friends—to reduce tho cost of living was greatly-increased production. Tho Government Statistician estimated that the pound note to-day had a purchasing power of rather more than 11s, as compared with the prewar purchasing power. Ho contended, however, that the purchasing power was not more than 10a. Mr Massey: The cost of living has gone down last month-for the first time - in years. . Mr Atmore: How much P ,Mr Massey: I can’t say how much; but it is lower. (Hear, hear.) If, added Mr Atmoro, labour was transferred from non-essential to essential trades, something worth while would he done towards cutting down the cost of living. Ho pointed out That tho man getting £SOO to-day — Ithe princely sum that the hon. members might shortly get if- they had luck —losfc £225 of it because of the increase of prices; so that his not income was only £275. Soientifio . research, for which they must got the best brains obtainable, was another very promising method of reducing the cost of production, which meant in the long run reducing the cost of living. (Hoar, hear.) But the Government had taken £40,000 in stamp duty and taxes from tho Cawthron Trust, and would not allow the Trust £2OOO a year to appoint another professor for scientific research. Referring to the great problems of reconstruction, the housing problem and such like, he said that these questions were going to ba settled either in the Parliament Houses of the world or in the street®,' either by reason or by force; and surely in a country like New Zealand they would settle them by constitutional methods, not by “’direct action.” They had ' seen enough of the results of tne latter in Russia, and New Zealand had nothing to loam from Russia. (Hear, hear!) But, as the foundation stone; our "representative institutions” must be made truly representative. How could the people really trust ‘‘representative institutions” which were not truly representative? If wo would only put aside merely party trappings the Prime Minister had a splendid opportunity of showing how these problems could and should bo settled.'(Hear hear.) THE DEBATE ENDS. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon urged the Government to enunciate a bold mining i policy, and a more enlightened policy . m regard to forestry. He thought that w© had "in the newly-appointed Director of Forestry a man, who, with his French and Canadian experience, would bo able to map out a good, sound, practical policy. (Hear, hear.) Tho Houso should be informed by the. Government what was being done about afforestation. Mr Hookly, who moved the address, replied briefly. The formal motions were carried, and tho House rose at 10.24 p.m. - maori avar" medals. At the previous sitting Air R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) formally introduced the Maori War Medals Bill. > Air T. W. Rhodes (Thames), in supporting tho bill, said that lie hoped the Government would take the matter up. Of a number of Maori war veterans who had signed a petition which ho presented to Parliament on tho matter last session, only five, he remarked, were now loft. Mr W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) pointed out that men whoi had not seen actual lighting had not the same claim to a medal as those who had been under fire.

Mr H. Atmore (Nelson) commented on tho fact that the hon. member had not explained his bill. Air Wright said that it was not customary to do so on tho first reading, Tho bill was road a first time.