ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. PASSED

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 11

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. PASSED

DEBATE IN UPPER HOUSE. By T®l««r*Ph.—Pr«»» Association. Wellington, Last Night. Fourteen days’ leave of absence was o-ranted the Hon. J. Barr in the Legis-. lative Council to-day, and the Hon. _G. J. Smith was appointed acting-chair-man of committees. Resuming the Address-in-Reply debate, the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre eaid the abolition of the party system was a very high ideal, but they had yet. to see' someone- come forward With a practical scheme. He hoped the House of Representatives would give the Prime Minister an opportunity of attending the Imperial Conference as it was most important at the present juncture that New Zealand should be represented. He did not favour the entire abolition of the defence forces just because there wae a temporary financial depression. Mr. Mclntyre said he favoured an increase in beer duty, which could not very well be passed on to the public. He favoured increases in the salaries of members of Parliament and suggested that the matter should be referred to the Arbitration Court. The Hon. Fagan said that although the views he would express would be those of the working class they would not be advanced in any hostile spirit. Too many' accidents were occurring on the public works of the Dominion, and it was time something was done to improve the present methods of handling explosives. There should be greater safeguards for miners in the employ of the State. He favoured an annual Xray examination of all miners in order to minimise the effects of miners pthisis. If he had his own way all imports of coal from Australia would be stopped, as he considered New Zealand could produce all the coal it required. The deputy-leader, the Hon. R. Masters, briefly thanked the members of the Council for the courtesy that had been extended to him, and after the Hon. D. Buddo had briefly replied the motion was adopted and the Council adjourned at 5 p.m. until July 30.