MEMBER FOR AWARUA

Southland Times, Issue 19291, 9 July 1924, Page 5

MEMBER FOR AWARUA

SPEECH IN THE HOUSE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED SOUTHLAND'S NEEDS] (Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 8. Mr P. A. de la Perrelle (Awarua) opened the debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House of Representatives this afternoon. SUPPORTS ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. In congratulating the mover and seconder, he referred to the moderation of their speeches, which were in striking contrast to the personalities and innuendo indulged in by those on the Ministerial benches. For some time Past, Reform had flown many kites in an endeavour to catch favourable winds, but these had all fallen ignominously. The country was sick to death of broken pledges and promises and party wrangling. Personally, he strongly advocated an elective executive. The country would then have the best brains of Parliament in Ministerial positions and no partisanship. It was the only means to get rid of the three-party system. The speaker criticised the Prime Minister’s interference with the politics of the Home Country whjle he was there, which he referred to as an indiscretion of the worst order. STATE ADVANCES. ' In dealing with State Advances, Mr Perrelle regretted that the Prime Minister had not taken his advice at this period last year, when he advocated borrowing several millions on a favourable Home market. He (Mr Perrelle) pointed out then that a vast sum was required to give immediate relief on first mortgages, but the assurance was given by the Finance Minister that with the provisions made then in the State Advances there would be ample funds to meet all requirements. The fallacy of this contention had been apparent for many months past and the State Advances was now practically “bone dry.” It would be interesting to know how many settlers had been advanced the maximum amount of £3500 and doubly interesting to know how many advances were made to those who were neither workers nor legitimate settlers. There was nothing surer that, with the financial position of New Zealand as it was on the eve of the expiring Moratorium, it would require the statesmanship of a genius to avent financial ruin and disaster to the primary producers of the Dominion. lie deprecated the raising of loans within the Dominion, as it robbed the country of available money for advances to rural industries. BOLD LAND POLICY. The speaker advocated a bold comprehensive land policy, much closer settlement and settlement upon the idle lands of the Dominion. It was grotesque to suggest that by purchasing improved estates, a vigorous land settlement scheme could be carried out in the country. The soldiers were paying the penalty for the stupendous piece of folly. He quoted figures to show that out of 66,000,000 acfes, only about 17,000,000 acres were turned by man into pastures; only about half the total area of the country was in a productive stage. THE MORATORIUM AND TAXATION. The speaker strongly opposed the lifting of the Moratorium other than by gradual process. The farmers were not sheltering under the Moratorium for any love of it. It was well nigh impossible to borrow money nowadays on broad acres. He did not consider that the proposal of the Prime Minister to appoint a Judge of the Supreme Court to hear applications for the continuance of protection would be acceptable to the producers of the Dominion. The incidence of taxation as at present existing was far from satisfactory and they should get back to the individual system. He favoured the abolition of the land tax, except for graduation purposes. The sneaker strongly urged a general reafforestation system upon the idle lands and more publicly abroad of the scenic resorts of the Dominion. He urged more attention and assistance to back-block schools and the removal of several anomalies in the Education Act. SOUTHLAND MATTERS. Mr Perrelle protested against the limited express train service to Southland, but preferred to deal more fully with this and other Southland matters at the proper time. He defended the cause of Liberalism, which he predicted would, at an early period, direct the destinies of this bonny country.