DEBATE ON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 11

DEBATE ON

TOBACCO INDUSTRY PLEA FOR PROTECTION DOMINION'S ECONOMY SELF-SUFFICIENCY URGED SECOND ARY IN DUSTRIES CPnr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The debate on the Budget was resumed in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. The first speaker was Mr. C. L. Hunter (Lab., Manawntu), who outlined the achievements of the Labour Government during its term of ofhee. The defence system, he said, had ween the object of some criticism, but the Labour Government had reorganised it and converted it from an out-of-date system into a modern and more efficient one. Pie also emphasised the assistance that had been given to local bodies which, he claimed, had received more help, both in respect to payment of

wages from the Employment Promotion Fund and by way in increased subsidies, than ever before. Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Nat., Motueka), referring to the New Zealand tobaccogrowing industry, stated there was no industry in the Dominion which offered belter scope for expansion in a small area than tobacco-growing. An area of five or six acres would j provide a farmer with a good standard of living, provided he was afforded protection in the initial stages of production from his land. Growth of Industry After outlining the growth of the industry since its inception in 1915, he stated that there was still need for protection of the industry. In September, 193(i, a complete plan had been presented to the Government for the improvment of the industry. With all this material available, the Government had done nothing, lie added, lie was convinced the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. 1). G. Sullivan, was sincere in his desire to help the tobacco growers, but the sympathy of the Minister alone was not sufficient. It was action that mattered and it was action that the tobacco growers of Motueka were asking from the Government. After stressing the possibilities for increased consumption of Dominiongrown leaf in New Zealand, Mr. Holyoake said he agreed with those who said that the Dominion could produce tobacco which was better than that from any other part of the Empire, and practically equal to anything in the world. The industry needed not only sympathy but sympathetic action from the Government. Separate Economy Wanted Mr. C. Morgan Williams (Lab., Kaiapoi) stressed the importance of local industries to New Zealand, and argued that the lime had arrived when the Dominion must develop an economy that was not dependent on Britain. As the birth-rate was declining in Britain, the demand for products must also decline and, as time went on, Britain would be less able to consume what New Zealand produced. The time had come when we in New Zealand should become a nation, he said. We had grown up and should no longer rely on our parent for sustenance. New Zealanders should cut the painter and separate the Dominion's economy from that of a country on the other side of the world. While New Zealand remained dependent on another country for income and on a single class of produce to create that income, the country was in a dangerous position. Mr. Williams went on to stress the fact that the birth-rate in Britain had declined. The market in Britain was shrinking, both because of the reduction in the birth-rate and because the British economy was decadent. "We all know the spinsters who cling to their parents and, when the parents die, they are left helpless," said Mr. Williams. "We do not want to be the elderly spinster of the British Empire. We want to be selfsufficient." Unemployment Figures Mr. C. A. Barrel! (Lab., Hamilton) said that the Leader ol the Opposition had expressed concern over the Government's unemployment figures. Was it worth while quibbling over whether there were 50,000 unemployed o\- 3000? What he did know, said Mr. Barrell, was that when the Government had come into office it had done more during the two and a-half years to relieve the position than the Opposition had done in Vwc years. When the House resumed in the evening, Mr. Barrell. continuing his speech, which was interrupted by the lea adjournment, dealt with the question of secondary industries. He said he had always been an advocate of support for secondary industries, He "I INSURE AGAINST COLDS!" "By buying an occasional tin of I'ulmonas, I insure my family against COUghs, colds and 'tin" she said. Willi a whining smile. l'ulimui..s nivc nil' an antiseptic vapour in tin- mouth. which destroys inl'eel lons germs. Try I'ulmonas. They're handy for pocket or purse. Taken freely while outdoors, they are Invaluable for prevention and relief. All chemists and stores—l/-, 1/11, 2/0."