PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21823, 28 September 1932, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY tribute to lord BLEDISLOE OPENING OF DEBATE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 27. The special work of the session will receive the undivided attention of members of Parliament from to-mor-row onwards, the last of the ceremonial adjournments having been taken this evening after the customary Ad-dress-in-Reply motion had been moved by Mr J, N. Massey (C., Hauraki) and seconded by Mr P. McSkimming (C., Clutha). The sitting only lasted 70 minutes, each speaker occupying half of that time. Public interest in the opening of the debate was not very apparent, the galleries around the Chamber being less than half full but the majority of the members of the House were present and the Speaker (the Hon. C. E. Statham) presided for the first time tills session. Mr Massey paid a tribute to the manner in which the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) and Lady Bledisloe had endeared themselves to the people of the Dominion and added that the breadth and depth of the knowledge which his Excellency had displayed in the agricultural life of the country had won especial admiration. The gift of the Waitangi Site was one which would be appreciated by Maori and pakeha alike and he felt confident that the present and later Governments would see that the monument associated with such an historic event would be properly protected for all time. Continuing, Mr Massey said that while there had been an improvement in the outlook of the Dominion it was evident it was not yet completely cut of its difficulties but there was reason to hope the improvement would continue. He referred to the Government’s efforts in the direction of assisting the farming community and expressed the view that a further careful investigation into the position regarding fertilizers would render it possible for farmers to receive yet more supplies of cheap fertilizer. It was necessary to go further than merely increase the Dominion’s production. Attention must be directed to improved marketing and the country must improve the quality of her products and, at the same time, submit an article that would be acceptable to the overseas markets.

Mr Massey expressed the opinion that New Zealand had been particularly ably represented at Ottawa and he said he believed that the Dominion, in common with the rest of the Empire, would receive benefits of considerable magnitude in consequence of the Conference.

Mr Massey went on to refer to the development of Crown and private lands and paid a tribute to the work of the Native Affairs Department in developing Maori lands. So far as the Auckland province was concerned it seemed that instead of the pakeha giving a lead to the Maori the latter was giving a lead to the pakeha. The Lands Department appeared to be lagging sadly behind. Unemployment Problem.

There had been considerable waste, and in this connection, he desired to refer particularly to unemployment relief. Everyone knew the unemployment problem was acute but it should be recognized that the money should be spent along the right lines. More valuable work could be done in the outlying areas than in the metropolitan areas. He regretted that there had been a departure in the Auckland province from the sound policy which had been laid down some months ago. He emphasized the necessity for devoting the expenditure largely to reproductive work. Mr McSkimming said that he had never been very optimistic about the Ottawa Conference but he thought something might accrue from it. Some of the manufacturers were up in arms about it but they should wait until they knew what was going to be done. The mere fact that the Empire representatives had met at Ottawa must do some good. “I am a secondary manufacturer myself,” Mr McSkimming said, “but I am not in favour of tariffs that make things too dear for the purchaser.” He said he was in favour of a moderate tariff and he considered the manufacturers should be able to do better than they were doing. What was wanted was a better understanding between the manufacturers and the workers.

Continuing, Mr McSkimming referred to the extravagant borrowing by the Government and local bodies in the past but said that it was no use blaming the Government. The electors sent members to the House and then demanded what they wanted and the Government had to borrow more money. "It’s no use blaming the Government,” he declared, "blame the individual elector.”

If anything would get the country down it was unemployment Mr McSkimming said. Money was being found but in many cases it was wasted. Men complained about not getting enough money but in many cases they were getting more than the work was worth. A lot of work offered to the men was certainly demoralizing but when the men refused to earn money paid to them they were not helping the position. Referring to specific cases of the mismanagement of the unemployment funds, Mr McSkimming said that the Unemployment Board had men grubbing weeds off land owned by well-to-do farmers. A Government member: Where are they? Mr McSkimming: There are still a good many down south. He said he was opposed to helping anyone who was in a safe financial position and stated that he considered it was a disgrace that the office 'girl's shilling should be given to wealthy companies to erect buildings (Labour Hear, hears.) 1 Part of the trouble in the country was that the Government was expected to do everything. Mr McSkimming continued that if individuals would put their shoulders to the wheel something might be done. The cost of education was more than the country could afford, he said, and he was glad the Government was cutting it down. Those who tried to economize always got plenty of kicks and he wanted to congratulate the Minister of Education on the firm stand he had taken. In conclusion he said that he was absolutely opposed to some of the large superannuations being paid and the Government should cut down these and also some of the high salaries being paid. «' The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. Holland) moved the adjournment and the House rose at 8.40 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.