GOVERNMENT DEFENDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18204, 27 September 1933, Page 7

GOVERNMENT DEFENDED

■ REASONABLE POLICY FAVORABLE comparison THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY t ““ (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The formal Atfdress-in-Reply motion in the House of Representatives was moved by Mr. H. Holland (Coal., Christchurch North), when the House of Representatives resumed this evening. Mr. Holland paid a warm tribute to the wbrk which Lord arid Lady Bledialoe had performed in all parts of the Dominion. , Defending the Government s policy in relation, to social, services,, he said that the pension cuts in. New Zealand had not been-so great-as in other countries, and the New Zealatid-Government, hud also,'cut down’rents and other! The cost of living had also been xetiueefl since 1929, so that the pensioner was really better off to-day than he had been before the-cuts.. ■ , Mr. Holland also defended the Government • against any charge of treating returned .soldiers harshly jin the matter of 'pensions. ‘ He said rho Dominion executive of the Returned Soldiers Association had itself been convinced that reductions wore tiila.vdidable. . New-'Zea-land'Was the only; fcoiintry in the ( world 'paid. its. . retdtned . ,Soldier's an economic pension.- He contended that the Government in reducing the wages of-the working community had exercised a due sense of responsibility, and had followed a statesmanlike policy in spreading the burden. EXCHANGE UNCERTAINTY He congratulated the Government ,and the Unemployment Board on the manner ip ■■ winch' they had handled the tragic question of unemployment, and favor- , ably compared New Zealand’s efforts with'those of other countries. He urged the Government to inquire into the possibilities ,of manufacturing industries absorbing more employees. Mr. Holland suggested that the Government should take early steps, to remove misapprehension in the minds of merchants and importers regarding its future policy on the high exchange issue. He said that rumors were in constant circulation that it was the intention of the Government to decrease, or cut out the exchange rate almost immediately, and people were afraid to import, because They feared that when, goods on whifch they had paid* 25 per cent, exchange were landed Here, the exchange would have been lifted. Mr. Holland considered a clear statement as to the position of local tenderers for contracts on the new Wellington railway station would also be appreciated. It had been stated that local tenderers would not be penalised, but there still seemed' to be some doubt on that pojnt. Congratulating Mrs. E. R. McCombs on her success in the recent by-election, Mr. Holland expressed the hope that her career would be a very successful one, and that Parliament and the country would be better for her presence in the House /

LAND SETTLEMENT The motion was seconded by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Coal., Waitomo), who said that for vitality and strength in the people, one had to turn to the soil. That was why he had always advocated land settlement on the right lines. For many years land settlement had been denied to the small man, but the small farm scheme was providing avenues for settlers with or no capital. Land settlement was a slow process, but the progress to date had been sound. There were also areas being prepared for small settlements, and in a snort time the number of people on the land should be considerably increased. He advocated simplification and resiliency in the administration of the small farm scheme. It was essential that the pace of settlement'should Be accelerated as far as possible It had been said that men with capital would not' get an opportunity under the scheme, but he contended that the man with a few hundred pounds was a most suitable person to settle on the land.

Mr. Broadfoot said he wished to compliment the Native Minister on the excellent developmental work that had been carried out for the Maoris. He had inspected the schemes, and had examined the costs, and was convinced that greater advance had been made than ever had been attempted before. Hp suggested, however, that where there was more land available than was necessary for native settlement* the surplus should be taken over at a fair price for European settlement, and the money arising from the sale of the land should be put into the hands of the Native Minister for developmental purposes. BETTING FACILITIES

Mr. Broadfoot advocated the amalgamation of all the lending departments of State. This policy had been adopted in the United States, and it was providing better facilities for advances to fanners. He suggested that the State Advances Department’s limit for lending money on stock should be raised, and the. time allowed for the repayment should bo extended. Continuing, Mr. Broadfoot said it was well known that betting with bookmakers was carried out on an extensive scale, and ho advocated the elimination of this practice by providing! an opportunity for silver bettors and larger investors to keep within the law. He considered that racing clubs should, be provided with the facilities for which they had been asking, and that a State lottery should be established. He referred to the profits realised on State lotteries in Australia, and the amount received by the Governments in taxation. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, and the House rose.