ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 24 June 1926, Page 6

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

DEBATE OPENS IN HOUSE. By Telecrupii—Press Association WELLINGTON. June 23 When the House resumed at 7.30, Mr-H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North) moved that a respectful . address be presented to His Excellency' the Gover-nor-General, in reply to His Excellency’s speech. In opening, Mr lapley expressed the general regret which prevailed when it was known that sudden indisposition prevented His Excellency 7 personally opening Parliament. He trusted that His Excellency would speedily be restored to his wonted health. Passing on, lie referred in feeling terms to tho death of Queen Alexandra, and next to llis Excellency’s visit to the Pacific Islands. He congratulated the Speaker upon his election to the Chair of the House, and the Prime Minister upon his leadership of the Reform Party. Mr Coates was out and out an Imperialist, and as it was l’elt on that side of the House that tho fortunes of tho Dominion were irrevocably' linked up with the Mother Land, for that reason they -all felt they could safely leave New Zealand’s interests in the Prime Minister’s hands at the forthcoming Imperial Conference. The Dunedin Exhibition came in for a word of praise, its great educational influence being especially' stressed, as well as the fact that the bringing together of various provinces of the Dominion had resulted in creating a better feeling among different sections of our people. He hoped it would have the effect of reviving tourist traffic to the South Island. Discussing finance and public credit, ho congratulated the country on the success of the recent loan in England, a tribute to our undoubtedly sound position. Although the Government was putting loan money to good use, they were no longer able to lend to settlors and others at the; old cheap rates. Discussing the trade balance, ho said we must increase our exports if we wished to avoid a period of depression. Ho did not think the Government could be accused of extravagance in public administration, because our figures 'compared favourably with those of neighbouring Governments. It was much the same in tho matter of the public debt. —not that we had much to flatter ourselves with regard to the public debt, and he would like to see some system evolved by r which that debt could bo materially reduced. He endorsed the immigration policy of tho Government, and aid not believe it had to any extent contributed to unemployment. We could do with a much large population. The Government was fully alive to the unemployment trouble, and in conjunction with local bodies, were doing everything possible to provide relief. He pleaded for an early and equitable, 'settlement of tho question of the site for an agricultural college, but thought that tho matter might safely be left m the hands of the Minister. Still further land settlement was required, and ho advocated rough land being given to settlers free of rent, to give them a chance of developing it. A universal contributing scheme was advocated, and the speaker sat down amidst applause after commending the Government on its decision to energetically' continue their programme ot humanitarian legislation. In seconding tho motion, Mr W. Jones (Marsden) dealt first with finance for farmers, a' subject on which he spoke feelingly', since ho was a farmer. Short-dated loans were the curse of farmers. He understood that a Commission which went Home to in-*' quire into the operations of Agricultural Bunks, was about to return to New Zealand, and he wondered whether their early return . had anything to do with the Bank of New Zealand’s anxiety to give farmers longer loans. One thing was certain, farmers must have better finance than they had had for a long time. Ho did not question the good work done by the Advances Department and the Public Trust Office, but wliat was wanted was a system more general in its application. Cheap fertiliser was one of the most claimant needs of New Zealand farmers to-day. Of first importance to the dairy' industry was the question of quality'. If they' did not maintain an article of tho highest quality their produce must suffer under competition on the markets of tho world. He congratulated tho Hon. K. S. Williams upon llis promotion to Hie portfolio of Public Works He was a man who know all about mud in the backblocks, and sido by side with larger public works, the reading - of the backblocks was an imperative necessity. He commented upon the policy' of the Main Highways Board as one that was going to save the situation for country' settlers, and ho advocated tho expenditure of ten to fifteen thousand sterling on gum lands in ' the North, and on pumice lands in the Waikato. Experimenting to-bring these lands into profit would he more valuable than an experimental farm carried on under the management of the Agricultural Department. A plea was made to the Minister of Education to give more gcneroiis treatment to backblnek children. It had been said that New Zealand was at present on wheels, and that was true. Unfortunately, it was on American, not British, wheels. It hurt him to think that while America practically' shut out our butter by' a heav.v duty', we were a’most compelled to ride about in American care. He therefore advocated greater preference to British goods. Mr Jones concluded that he would begin his career in the House as he hoped to continue by not ma king , long speeches. The adjournment of the debate was moved by tho Loader of the Opposition, and the House rose at 9.15, till 2.30 to-morrow.