IN PARLIAMENT

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

IN PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY’S BUSINESS PREMIER’S DEFENCE THE LABOUR LAND POLICY. (Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 8. Question time brought a number of important matters before the House of Representatives. It has been known for some little time that a good deal of capital has been moving out of New Zealand across the Tasman Sea, and the Prime Minister was asked at the week-end if he would be interviewed on the subject, but did not feel inclined to discuss it. Mr J. A. Young (Hamilton), has now brought up the matter and is asking if the Government can take any action that will in some sense review the volume of transitory capital, and control it in the interests of New Zealand, where, he suggested, every available pound is needed for the development of industry and the stabilisation of economic and financial conditions generally. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The Prime Minister made a somewhat startling statement in regard to the question put to him concerning Empire wireless by Mr Hanan. Mr Massey said he believed that there were influences at work at Home that were preventing a definite decision and policy being arrived at by the British Government The administration of the railways was the subject of a statement by the Minister to the Press in regard to the Government’s proposals concerning suburban electrification schemes, cn which it is intended to get an expert investigation. The Minister was very much amused at the suggestion made by a Canterbury Liberal member that the Government might know the cost of investigation by the English railway experts, Sir Sam Fay, and Sir Vincent Raven, vzho are now in Australia and are due here shortly. He assured him that the Government had a definite agreement with the Commissioners and would fully protect the interests of the country. Fares and freights were fully discussed at a deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce, and here, too, the Government have not yet finalised, and a comprehensive statement in regard to this and the order in which new railways works will proceed is promised shortly. THE MEMBER FOR AWARUA. The House is beginning to listen with respect to the speeches of the member for Awarua, Mr Perrelle, as they give evidence of careful preparation. He devoted himself closely to the needs of the man on the land, and criticised the Government’s land policy, its State Advances and the finalising of the Moratorium, which, he said, should be gradual. Mr Perrelle does not favour raising loans locally, as he contends that all available money is required for rural development. He said that the coffers of the State Advances Department were now as dry as bones, lie hinted that the Government were giving advances to people that were not bona fide settlers or workers. OREPUKI SHALE. A largely signed petition has come to Parliament from Southland. It is signed by people who are anxious to the Orepuki shale works again in operation. The petitioners give a brief history of the company, which had been out of action for many years, and then go on to state that with some slight alterations to the existing retorts, the capacity can be increased from 60 to 240 tons per day. They also state that the difficulties experienced in the past in regard to treatment of the shale owing to its crudeness, have now been overcome, and it is also stated that the plant has been maintained in good order by the company. In view of the benefit to New Zealand from the carrying on of the works, the petitioners suggest that the Government give a bonus of threepence per gallon on crude oil produced by the company during eight years, conditional upon the production of oil being resumed within twelve months, and also suggest that other facilities, including reduced freights, be granted.

PREMIER IN FIGHTING TRIM. When the Prime Minister rose to his feet after the tea adjournment, the galleries were crowded and only those members who had been granted leave through illness were absent from the Chamber. Mr Massey spoke for an hour and a quarter, and was granted an extension at the instigation of the Liberal Leader. The Prime Minister’s debating talents have rarely been exhibited with such force and eloquence. He drew upon a wealth of apt quotations from modern authors, leaving the classics alone for the moment. He dealt with his critics in a summary fashion and warmed up thoroughly to his task when dealing with the suggestions from the Opposition that members of the Government had purchased soldier blocks from their friends. ‘lf they have anything let them bring it forward definitely,” he said. “If they have not, let them hold their peace for ever.” Mr Massey quoted fewer figures than usual, but used them effectively to show the extent to which the Reform Government has utilised opportunities for remitting taxation. The interviews of the Leader of the Opposition with the Press have formed the subject of comment by the two Ministers. To-night, Mr Massey referred to an interview with Mr Wilford, published in the London Daily Telegraph. “Does anybody known a gentleman named Grande?” asked Mr Massey. “Yes,” said Mr Wilford, “he was in my office some time ago.” “I thought so,” said Mr Massey. The House shouted for more and Mr Massey said that Mr Grande had approached him in London and threatened to publish certain articles if he was not given more remunerative employment. Mr Wilford, obviously uncomfortable, characterised the interpretation on his remarks in the interview as a deliberate lie, saying that it was based on a private conversation. The House looked wise and there was a feeling that the Prime Minister had scored a telling point. LABOUR LEADER SPEAKS. The mystery gave way to downright amusement when the Labour Leader charged the Liberals with taking the whole planks from Labour's platform for their no-confidence motion, or such of them as it suited the Liberals to support for the time being. Mr Holland gave some very candid reasons for the elimination of other planks of his Party from the Liberal amendment and suggested political gerrymandering as the reason for the absence of the plank referring to electoral reform. Then Mr Holland delved into a voluminous array of statistics, as is his want, to demonstrate that the only land policy suitable to New Zealand is that set out in Labour’s programme, which is land tenure based on occupancy and use, which will secure to the working farmer the full fruits of his industry and exertions. The House adjourned earlier than usual —at 10.30 o’clock.