WHO WILL WIN ELECTION?

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1929, Page 11

WHO WILL WIN ELECTION?

CHANCES IN FEDERAL AFFRAY VIEWS OF VISITING AUSTRALIANS. “THINGS HAVE BEEN IN BAD WAY.” . , (By. .Wire.—Special to News.) : ' Auckland, Last Night. Conflicting opinions on the prospects of the parties in the Federal election are given by Australians who arrived in Auckland by the Ulimaroa this morning. There are those who with sound arguments to back their statements aie confident the Bruce Government will be returned and again there are those who are satisfied there will be a change. . “The people seemed to get the wrong idea about the Bruce Government,” said Mr. E. L Andrews. “Statements were twisted to suit his opponents' and the worst made of them but I think everyone is beginning to realise what a good man he is. Mr. Hughes can be expected to put up a very good fight but I think the Bruce Government will go back.” Mr. G. T. Niccol, Auckland, is confident the Bruce Government will win the election. Faith in Mr. Hughes’ part was expressed by another passenger. “Mr. Bruce is sure to go out,” he declared, “and if Mr. Hughes is returned I think the Bavin Government will resign in New South Wales.” All were in agreement, however, that “things in Australia have been in a bad way.” From the cost of living to the safety of the people everything was affected. Shooting and razor-slashing were common and one man left the interviewer to draw his own conclusions from the fact that within a week before he left Sydney there were no fewer than four affrays in the street jn which he was living.

Sir Joseph Ward announced that he would withdraw the Education Department and Scientific and Industrial Research Department estimates from the list to the passage of which urgency had been granted. Mr. J. G. Coates said the proposal was a reasonable one. ‘■PARTIES SHOULD CONFER.” Mr. H. E. Holland suggested there should be ' conferences between the three party leaders to come to some arrangement in regard to the estimates to be put through each time the House went into committee; He considered this would give the Standing Orders a fairer trial. Sir Joseph Ward said he was willing to agree to Mr. Holland’s suggestion. If an arrangement were reached to put through a reasonable amount of business, on each occasion it should be possible to complete the business of the session by the end of the month. . The estimate of £60,375. for the Department ,of Labour was next considered. Mr. D. Jones emphasised the, importance of training boys for trades and urged that the whole question of apprenticeship should be investigated. Mr. H. E. Holland pointed out that at present less than 50 per . cent, of the number of apprentices allowed by the law were employed in New Zealand. Mr. R. McKeen said the number of inspectors of awards was inadequate for the needs of the Dominion, while Mr. M. J. Savage contended the time had arrived for a revision of the administration of the whole department. In the present state of affairs shots were being fired undeservedly at employees of the department. Mr, Veitch stated he had come to the conclusion some time ago that it would be necessary to re-organise the labour laws and the Labour Department to some extent because, particularly since the war, economic and general conditions had changed rapidly. Fresh industries were constantly springing up with a consequent increase in employment in the secondary industries. He insisted, however, that the departmental staff had been carrying out its duties in a thoroughly conscientious way. There was a widespread desire on the part of parents to get their sons into a trade without an equal desire on the part of employers to engage them as apprentices. Valuable light had been thrown on the.subject by the apprenticeship conference. He added that an opportunity would be provided for the employment, of a large number of young men on the land, not as apprentices but as free- workers. The vote was passed, and the Customs Department estimate (£113,307) was then considered. CENSORSHIP OF LITERATURE.

Mr. P. Fraser askel for inforriiation in regard to the censorship of literature coming into the country and questioned whether it -. was really necessary. He asked whether the cost was justified. The Minister of Customs expressed surprise that Mr. Fraser had taken exception to the work of the board . which, he thought, performed its duties in a proper manner. If for any reason members cf the board were unable to agree, or if there was any doubt as to the procedure the book or the document concerned would be submitted to him ag Minister. If any one would say indecent literature should come into the country without restriction he did not know what he was talking about. There was no civilised country in the world that he knew of that did not adopt some form of censorship. The provisions of the Act related firstly to indecent documents and secondly to documents which incited and encouraged violence, lawlessness, etc., or expressed seditious opinions. He submitted that that was a fairly wide definition. Mr. Fraser suggested that the Minister should be the censor instead of a board. Mr. W. D. Stewart eaid the board had been set up as the result of complaints that “some obscure Customs clerk” had been left to decide whether a book was of an indecent character. The board could not control the entry of all books to the country; it was only in cases in which complaints were made and sustained that books were prohibited. If any person objected to the decision of the board all he had to do was to get a copy of the book and take the case. before a magistrate. Mr. H. E. Holland said it was to the banning of historic, political, economic and scientific value that they were objecting. Mr. Stewart said the board had been responsible for the lifting of restrictions from many books of the type mentioned. Only books advocating violence in New Zealand were banned. The vote was passed. ' k On the Marine Department estimate ( £115,707) Mr. Fraser asked that the wirelees regulations should be extended to cover all ships. The vote was passed and the House rose at 1.45 a.m.