PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21648, 9 March 1932, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

ADDEESS-IN-REPLY A DREARY DEBATE SITTING HOURS LENGTHENED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, May 8. From to-day onwards the House of Representatives will sit from Mondays to Fridays and until midnight each day, the Prime Minister having mover! an extension of the sitting hours this afternoon prior to the resumption of the Address-in-Reply debate. A distinctly good impression was made by Mr J. Hargest who was the first speaker for the afternoon, his effort being greeted by hearty applause. The debate was continued by Mr D. W. Coleman (L., Gisborne) who claimed that the two parties to the Coalition had proved failures and therefore nothing but failure could be expected from the present Government. Mr A. Stuart (Govt., Rangitikeil also made his maiden speech and appealed to the Government not to place the mortgagee in an awkward position in their anxiety to protect the mortgators. Currency control was advocated by Mr f A. S. Richards (L., Roskill) who said the Government had established control of the sale of a number of primary products and should control the medium by which these goods were distributed. A reduction in interest rates was advocated by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Govt., Central Otago) who also said he welcomed what the Government was doing to encourage the gold mining industry. Mr J. Munro (L„ Dunedin North) supported a policy of inflation and held that the issue of up to .£20,000,000 fiduciary notes would get the country out of its difficulties. Mr R. A. Wright (Govt., Wellington Suburbs) dealt with the exchange question l»nd Mr R. Semple (L., Wellington East) blamed the Government for making election promises they had not attempted to keep. A spirited speech was made by Mr 11. Atmore (1., Nelson) who made numerous quotations. He said the working hours would have to be reduced and anyone who fought against the reduction in the eight hour day was only perpetuating the foolishness of those who objected to a reduction in the 16 hour day. Mr Chapman continued the debate on the usual Labour lines and the galleries thinned out, rapidly, vacant seats being numerous by the time the supper adjournment was reached. The debate was continued after supper by Mr C. H. Clinkard (L., Wellington North), who said it was impossible at the present time to carry out the contracts that had been made a few years ago and there should be a 20 per cent, reduction in everything, including interest and rent. Mr F. Jones (L., Dunedin South) criticized the administrations of the past and Mr H. S. Kyle (Govt., Riccarton) said that committees anil commissions should be formed from members of the House. Earthquake legislation was the main subject of Mr W. E. Barnard’s (L., Napier) speech, and Mr D. S. Reid (Govt., Raglan) moved the adjournment at 11.50, the House rising until to-morrow afternoon.