ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Southland Times, Issue 18972, 20 June 1923, Page 5

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

DEBATE OPENS MOVER'S AND SECONDER’S SPEECHES. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 19. The House met at 7.30. Mr J. C. Rolleston (Waitomo), moved according to notice: “That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency the Governor-General, in reply to his Excellency’s Speech.” In doing so, he said the Speech delivered to them by his Excellency, gave a comprehensive review, not only of the present condition of the Dominion, but more particularly of its financial position, which was much better than many supposed it could possibly be, only a few months ago. Particularly was he pleased with the announcement that there was a prospect of an immediate reduction of taxation. Amongst those who were to benefit by this reduction, he hoped the Premier would not overlook the small settler whose claims for relief were clamant indeed. The proposed reduction of the duty on tea and the proposals to widen the scope of the State Advances Act were favourably commented on. The speaker then passed on to deal with the dairy industry. Enormous strides had been made in production. A good future for the industry was being predicted so long as * high quality article was being maintained. At the same time he urged that dairy farmers should cull their herds more strictly as that was the only way which dairying on high priced land could be made profitable. The position of the meat market was critically reviewed, the operation of the Meat Producers’ Board being eulogised as one of the finest examples of co-co-operative marketing on record. Amongst the post-war problems which yet remained to be dealt with, was reading the backblocks. This was a burning question in many parts of the Dominion, and unless an improvement was speedily made, it would be more and more difficult to get settlers to “go back” and endure the hardships necessitated by the want of proper transport. One of the most effective inducements, which could be offered to men to take up waste lands, was to let them take it up rent free and give them schools and other reasonable conditions. Incidentally he paid a high tribute to the Minister of Public Works for what he had done for back block settlers. He agreed that much of the country’s improved lands was was held in too large areas, but their first duty was to open up waste land of ths Dominion and bring them into profit. He urged a vigorous policy of native land purchase as that at present held was only breeding ground for rabbits and noxious weeds. The difficulties which faced local bodies in the districts where there were large quantities of native land were enumerated, the speaker advocating natives being placed on the same footing as Europeans, so far as the payment of rates was concerned. If they could not pay in cash they should be compelled to pay in kind. Too much native land was held up under proclamation. Many would-be settlers w’ere being thereby shut out.

The most important event referred to in the Speech was the forthcoming Imperial Conference at which it was imperative that New Zealand should be represented, and that by the Prime Minister, whose wide knowledge and experience would be invaluable. This opinion was held not only in New Zealand, but in other parts of the Empire as well. The defence of the Pacific was one of the most vital questions to be discussed at that conference, and in view of the importance of the subject, Australians and New Zealanders would shortly have to consider whether they could any longer permit the British taxpayer to bear such a large part of the burden. Migration within the Empire was next discussed and approved as tending to promote Imperial industries and Empire Defence. So far as Dominion politics were concerned, he had spoken more particularly from the point of view of his own electorate, and he had done so because he considered the first duty of the House and the Government was to give closer attention to their semi-developed districts.

He then moved the motion standing in his name.

Mr Macmillan seconding the motion, said that the most important feature of the Governor’s Speech was the reference to the Imperial Conference. At such gathering, the position held by Mr Massey was high indeed, as his experience in this connection was great and the House should not rise without making provision for New Zealand’s representation at the forthcoming conference by the Prime Minister. Such conferences were likely to grow in importance, and they would have in the future to regard it as an established fact that the leader of the House would have to attend them regularly. As a part of the growth of these conferences, he hoped that one day he would see their cousins, the Americans taking part in them. Certainly everything should be done to promote harmony between themselves and the Americans.

On the subject of British industries, the speaker remarked that there was a time when nearly every implement on New Zealand farms was of British manufacture. That was not the case now. He believed that the Premier would be able to show the British manufacturers that there is a large market awaiting them in New Zealand if they cared to develop it. He welcomed the prospects of a reduction on taxation and to the proposals of the Government to extend the operations of the State Advances Act, which had now become vital to the prosperity of the country settlers. The reading problem was rapidly becoming more than local bodies could cope with, because of the enormous development of motor traffic. Bad roads tended to drive people into towns for the people would not go into the country to suffer discomforts created by bad roads. He looked to the House to devise some means by which sufficient money could be raised to keep roads in an efficient state of repair. The Minister of Public Works, feared that a »»tyre tax would not bring in sufficient revenue and if that was so, he recommended that benzine should be imported in bulk, and a small tax put upon it when sold. By this means, a considerable sum could be raised while benzine could be sold almost as cheaply to consumers as now. Marketing conditions connected with dairy produce, was a subject deserving of the closest attention, and when the Dairy Produce Export Bill came before the House he hoped members would give it that earnest consideration it deserved. The position of soldier settlers was referred to, and the hope expressed that when the report of the Commission came up for discussion the House would be prepared to treat soldier settlers very sympathetically. Similar sympathetic treatment for the farming industry was also advocated. The speaker concluded by paying a high tribute to his predecessor, Sir William Herries.

The adjournment of the debate was moved by Mr Wilford, and the House rose at 8.40 till 2.30 to-morrow.