THE DEBATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23885, 12 August 1939, Page 11

THE DEBATE

MR DOIDGE’S SUMMARY EMPTY VICTORY FOR MR LEE CONQUEROR FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Aug. 11 "It has been a trial of strength between the Government and the Left Wing and the member for Grey Lynn has had a transitory victory lasting a mere 24 hours,” This was the summary offered by Mr F. W Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga) of the position that arose in the House of Representatives to-day during a discussion of the attitude of the Government towards the debt obligations of the Dominion. The debate centred around the Opposition amendment to the formal motion before the House in the financial debate. Many members on both sides of the House took part and the principal theme was the speech made on Wednesday night by Mr J. A. Lee (Govt.. Grey Lynn). Mr J. Robertson (Govt., Masterton) challenged the sincerity of the Opposition in moving the amendment. A former Minister of Finance, Mr W. Downie Stewart, he said, had advocated the relief of Governments from the burden of obligations which they could not fulfil. Mr Stewart had said that meant a cancellation or reduction of debts on a considerable scale, and had said that the time would come when if this were not done by international action it would be done by default. Purpose Served Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton) said the amendment had served its purpose because it had caused the Government to give the people of New Zealand the first clear. Government statement on finance. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry said the Leader of the Opposition in his speech had clearly advocated two sets of morals, when he had advocated paying overseas debts and repudiating those held inside the country. A Passage at Arms Opposition members heard with delight a passage at arms between two Government members —Mr Perry and Mr C. L. Carr (Timaru). Mr Parry was urging on the House the need for caution in statements today in view of the difficult situation in Europe. Too many dangerous statements were being made, he said. “ The member for Grey Lynn is not the only person who has made very, very unwise statements,” said Mr Parry. Mr Carr: Yours was certainly a very unwise statement. Mr Parry: I am not sure that the statements of the member for Timaru are always wise. Mr Carr: I am in good company. "I am not sure that I am,” replied Mr Parry, amid Opposition laughter. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) said that no greater misrepresentation had ever been made than Mr Robertson’s misrepresentation of Mr Downie Stewart. Mr Stewart had actually said that unless a certain policy were followed default would become inevitable, and had strongly urged that policy on the Government of the day. He contended that Mr Fraser’s statement should have been made as soon as Mr Lee had finished his speech on Wednesday night. Interpreter for Mr Lee Mr Carr quoted briefly from “ The Merchant of Venice,” and read some of the dialogue between Shylock and Portia. "I submit that the bondholder in London is not only asking for his pound of flesh, but has asked for the right to draw blood with it,” said Mr Carr. He gave his interpretation of the meaning of the speech made on Wednesday night by Mr Lee, and said that he was not making an apology, but merely an explanation, which was apparently necessary to enable some members of the Opposition to understand what had been said. " The speech by the member for Timaru has the effect of pouring petrol on flames that are already there, said Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo). "If the country’s credit had not been damaged by statements from the Left Wing, we should have received the same consideration from Great Britain as in the past. If the Opposition has done nothing else, it has drawn an excellent statement from the deputy leader of the Government.” There was no truth in any suggestion that the country must default, said Dr D. G. McMillan (Govt., Dunedin West). New Zealand to-day was more prosperous than ever before. He described the Opposition as the arch repudiators of every piece of legislation on the Statute Book when it was in office. "It is merely a hoax to try to get the Opposition out of the difficult position it occupies.” he added. "A Sinister Influence ” “ I regard the member for Grey Lynn as a most sinister influence in New Zealand politics,” said Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga), He said that Mr Lee’s speech was a discussion of the ’’olicy of default and repudiation, and never before in the history of the House had so dangerous a speech been made. “It is true that this country is in a mess and wounded, but our wounds are self-inflicted,” Mr Doidge added. "We can get out of it if the country will live within its income.’’ Mr Doidge said that New Zealand’s credit was so bad at Home that people there would not touch the latest loan. Nevertheless, the banks had come to the rescue, and the Bank of England, which had been so reviled had taken up £10,000,000. The speech made bv Mr Lee suggested that he was a financial anarchist —a wrecker —Mr Doidge concluded. The reply made by Mr Fraser, however, would go a long wav towards correcting its effects Mr Armstrong's Contribution “The member for Hurunui though: he was going to throw a bomb into the Government camp when he moved the amendment last night, but it has turned out to be nothing more than a Chinese cracker —and a fizzer at that.” said the Minister of Housing. Mr H. T. Armstrong. “Talk of repudiation comes well from the Opposition—the greatest crowd of repudiators who have ever occupied seats in the Parliament of any country.” Mr Armstrong said. “When they had to balance the interests of the moneybags at the other end of the world against the interests of the people of New Zealand, they sacrificed the people of New Zealand. If anyone had to be robbed, their own country came first.”