CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 9

CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

WAITOMO MEMBER'S VIEW LAND SETTLEMENT SCHEME READING OFFERS RELIEF By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued in the House of Representatives to-night by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo), who said that if a bold policy of arterial road construction were adopted it should be possible to absorb 400 or 500 unemployed in a few weeks. Mr. Broadfoot named as the causes of unemployment the lack of a land settlement policy, in migration and failure to develop the natural resources. He said the late Government had suffered from a “can’t complex” in dealing with land settlement, but the present Government was determined to overcome the difficulty. In the past it had been the rule that the pioneer should never gain tho reward, which was kept for the second or third generation. That state was wrong and should not continue. Mr. Broadfoot suggested that all virgin lands round the lines of communication and round the harbours should be developed and classified according to the uses .for which they were suitable and handed over to settlers. Every acre in the country should be used, thereby eliminating “backblocking.” Science and invention had been blamed for unemployment, but while the number of workers might temporarily be displaced by machinery, employment would by the same means eventually be found for many more workers. Science had never been thoroughly applied to New Zealand’s natural resources. Coal mines had not been developed as they might have been and the mining industry had been neglected. One reason for the latter fault was, he considered, the fact that too much power was invested in tho Minister of Mines, and mining engineers had not sufficient inducement to utilise their talents to the full advantage. The member for Waitomo also advocated fostering the fur industry by means of introducing more opossums, and the development of the tourist traffic. The pork industry was dormant and the poultry industry had been languishing The ratio of birds to the population to-day was the lowest for years. He recommended calling together a conference of delegates from every part of the Empire with a view to forming an Imperial economic bloc. CLAIMS OF WHEATGROWERS. Mr. Broadfoot was pleased to see that a, select committee would be set up to go into the question of wheat. The wheatgrower should be treated with the greatest consideration, and if after a searching inquiry it were found that the ('acts were against him, a reduction of the duties should be undertaken carefully and wisely so that he would suffer the least possible loss. Ho compared New Zealand’s position to-day with that which faced Denmark some years ago, when cheap prairie wheat threatened the local industry. Denmark had then met tho crisis by concentrating on the production of higher quality grain. Mr. J. A. Nash said Mr. T. W. McDonald had in the course of his speech made reference to something which he would tell Mr. Nash in private about the Palmerston North deviation. Mr. Nash said he had challenged Mr. McDonald then to make a statement publicly, and bo repeated the challenge now. Mr. McDonald: It is accepted. Mr. Nash described Mr. McDonald as a “political twister.” Referring to the Labour Party’s attitude in tho present debate, Mr. Nash suggested it did not wish to be drawn into the discussion lest it should show its hand. He criticised the Government’s action in stopping the work on the Palmerston North deviation and said a statement of Mr. J. P. Maxwell (who had been out of the railway service for 30 years) had been published, that to spend £700,000 on the work would be the height of extravagance. He would like to hear what Mr. Maxwell would say about the expenditure of over £3,000,000 on the Scuth Island main trunk railway. Many people had been killed at the Palmerston North railway crossings, which were a menace to life, and public opinion would demand that something should he done sooner or later.

RAILWAY DECISIONS. Mr Nash contended that the question of the South Island main trunk line should be referred to a commission. The Prime Minister was apparently prepared to act on a statement regarding the Palmerston North deviation by a man who had been out of the service for 30 years. If that were so, surely he should seriously entertain the opinion of Mr. Jones (late chairman of the .Railways Board) concerning the South Island extension. Practically every paper in the Dominion still insisted that a Royal Commission should be set up to deal with the subject. If a commission agreed that the railway was essential he did not think the Prime Minister would have much difficulty in getting the work done.

Mr. J. A. MacPherson said there were many large holdings in Canterbury on which he had assisted in settling farmers over 20 yeras ago. What was necessary to support life then was more than ample now, and he would like to see those large holdings subdivided. He criticised the Reform administration of land settlement, stating that in many instances, which were cited as cases in which the settlers had been placed, the actual position was that old leases bad been renewed to old tenants. Mr. MacPherson said farming could not be conducted at a maximum profit and in the best interests of the country unless some part was devoted to the growing of wheat. This industry gave employment to hundreds of men and augmented railway freights, and the advantage to the round as the result of wheat cropping was important. He considered the infinitesimal protection that was given this industry was a mere bagatelle compared with the loss that would result from the failure of the industry which was threatened. The member complained of the state into which he said locomotives had been allowed to fall and stated that the late running of trains was entirely attributable to this cause. This fault was due to the Reform Party’s policy. Insufficient time had been devoted to the care of engines, and in consequence the locomotives could only work at about half their normal capacity.

Mr. McDonald me de a statement in reference to Mr. Nash’s remarks. He said what he had actually stated was that he knew what had happened in Palmerston' North, and he had said this in response to an interjection by Mr. Nash. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. J. G. Cobbe and the House rose at 10.30