THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 8

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 17. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate the Hon. E. Martin (Auckland) said that the previous speaker had said that New Zealanders had political and religious freedom and that was true, but what was better was that they now had economic security. It had been said that the Government had not created any new wealth, but it had done so in so far as it had provided goods and services. The Government’s policy had led to more money reaching more people and the increased spending power had led to the production of more real wealth. The Government was blamed for not solving the unemployment problem, but he had never heard a member of the Government claim that the unemployment problem could be solved. The Government had tackled the problem, but unemployment would remain while the present economic system led to machines displacing men. The Hon. C. J. Carrington (Auckland) said that Mr Martin had spoken like a member of another place.jor like a candidate on the hustings. He did not wish to enter into a party dispute, but there were some things being done that would have future consequences and it would be wrong to disregard "those things. The people were being regimented, dragooned and brought under the control of a bureaucratic Government. Initiative was being destroyed and the people were having their independence sapped until they were open to any political stunt or mass suggestion. Mr Martin had said that economic security was of more value than political and religious liberty, but that was not the case. Before the Government had gone much further Communism would appear in the open and Communism and Fascism were the greatest menaces to democracy today. To meet that menace the people should be encouraged to think and act for themselves instead of being forced to allow others to think for them. The Government’s housing scheme showed that the Government was moving towards Socialism. Big combines were being encouraged because it would be easier to socialize one big concern than a thousand small ones. The Hon. Rangi Mawhete, Palmerston North, said he was glad as a Maori member of the Council to express the loyalty of the Maoris to the King and Queen. He praised the Government for helping the Maoris with housing and the development of land and paid tributes to the Minister of Health and Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) for the work he had done. There was more still to do, he said. The death rate of Maoris was too high and if Maori girls could be trained in nursing they would help to improve the health of their people. The Council adjourned at 4.30 until Wednesday.