ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 55

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

DEBATE IN THE LOWER HOUSE.

WELLINGTON, July 7. Mr Escott resumed the debate on the Address-m-Reply this afternoon. He spoke with pleasure upon the prosperous state ol our primary products, and welcomed tnc prospect that tile opening of the Panama Canal would open, up new markets for our meat in some of the populous countries of the Old World. He spoke with approval of the operations of the Public Service Act and of the proposal to improve the position of teachers and increase their salaries. He contended that it was misrepresentation to say that the Government contemplated the establishment of an independent navy. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon urged that _ the Government should give some indication of when the Cost of Living Commission report was to be discussed. He deprecated the failure to give the West Coast representation upon the Agricultural Board. He complained that the Governor’s Speech made no mention of mining legislation. Since the Government came into office there had benn a sad falling off in attention to the goldfields. Compensation with regard to workers in mines was not satisfactory. lie hoped that a clear statement of the Government’s policy upon the local navy would be given. , Mr Scott said he knew of no country m the world in which the workers were so well off, but the time must come when the overloading of the by h.gh wages would be felt. It was not only the high wages, and the inefficiency of the workmen which employers in both town and country had to contend with. He supported immigration • and land settlement. He was pleased to hear that it was Proposed to do away with grants to local bodies. , . ~ ■ Mr L. M. Isitt, in congratulating the members wiho proposed the Address-m-Reply, said that they had performed the difficult task of making bricks without straw. Ho wanted to support Sir J. (j. Ward’s amendment, although he did not for one moment suppose it would be carried. The Government supporters were so supine and lamblike in their submission • that they would submit to / anything put forward by their leaders. On only one occasion, when three members had had the audacity to oppose the Prime Minister, the great “ Arikitory ” diad shaken his fist at them and they had crept back to their places. Since then no squeak had been heard frem these political mice. It was a triumph not of mind over -matter, but of matter over matter. He condemned the Native land legislation of the Government, which was against the interests of the Native. The one great cry of the Government was settlement, more settlement, and still more settlement. He complained that the' small farmer was not represented on the Agricultural Board. He contended that there was aggregation, directly contributed to by the legislation placed upon the Statute Book by Mr Massey. Touching upon the defence question, he declared, that the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence had abjectly crawled down. Tt was idle to say that six months ago the Government was not in favour of an independent navy. - The training of 60 men would cost £50,000 a year, or at the rate of £2500 per man for the three years’ course. The proposal was reckless and foolish, and there was no fear of the people being cajoled into the adoption of an independent navy. He • ridiculed the suggestion that the Reformers were not Conservative. He hoped that if they did not carry the no-confidence motion in the House they would see it carried in the country in six months’ time. Mr Rhodes said that the Speech from the Throne was a common-sense document. The ■legislation passed last session had .tended to bring about settlement. He ' believed it would be possible to reduce the cost of living to the people by some adjustment of the Customs taxation, the provision of workers’ homes, etc. Ho regretted that no mention was made of mining matters in the Governor’s Speech. Many valuable reefs remained tc be found.

Mr Webb said he could congratulate the Government upon standing true to its traditions. It had brought down a policy which was absolutely barren of anything in the way of progression. He believed the strike was a relic of barbarism; but, if that was so, was not the cause of the strike all the more a relic of barbarism? There was an economic cause behind every strike. The Government was largely responsible for the industrial strife. A Government which was so despotic to Labour was one he would be pleased to vote against on a no-confidence motion.

Mr Bell pointed out that the condition of the occupancy of the land was due more to the Liberals than the present Government. Credit was due to the Government for increasing the graduated land tax. He was not in favour of increasing the graduated land tax on estates which -were not suitable for cutting up. He agreed with the Opposition upon defence, and would far rather have the naval subsidy; but, in view of the 1899 agreement, he did not think the contribution would mean an increase in the navy. He felt, however, that whatever they paid would only go towards a reduction in the Imperial Naval Estimates. If they could guarantee an increase in the navy he would far prefer the subsidy. Mr Massey was not to blame for disgracing the interests of the Native owners of the West Coast lands. The legislation passed by the Liberals in 1892 prevented the Natives from occupying their own land. The legislation passed by the Massey Government was the only legislation passed with the approval of Mr Ell opposed a local navy. Although only three and a-half months in office, the Mackenzie Government did real good work. The second ballot went through last session in its present form because the Opposition members were stopped from speaking by the Chairman of Committees. They heard nothing now of the hardships of settlers. There was no talk of pack horses in the mud now. The settlers had only been used as a whip for the Liberals, and the same was the case with taxation. The policy of the Liberals was to ease the lot of the small taxpayers, taking the money from the wealthy people. He quoted extensively to show what substantial remissions had been made in the Customs by the Liberals, and further reductions were proposed. Superannuation and other generous schemes were introduced. The Liberal policy in the past was one of which every Liberal might be proud. The Governor’s Speech was an empty rag of a thing, devoid of any indication of progress. Mr G. M. Thomson moved the adjournment, and the House rose at 0.25 a.mu