DISPOSED OF

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23258, 20 July 1945, Page 4

DISPOSED OF

Address-in-Reply Opposition Silent Some Interesting Questions Asked ■ NZPA.i WELLINGTON July 19. Before the Adiiress-in-Keply De- ! bate was continued in the house 1 of Representatives this afternoon, I notice of a number of interesting questions was given by members. I The debate was conducted by Government speakers, those still : available on the Opposition benches not offering to take part. This re- ’ suited in the debate coming to an end shortly alter 5 p.m. Mr H. E. Combs (Government, Weli Jing-c : Suburbs, gave notice to dsk the Minister of Finance whether his I attention had been d.awn to the fact i that £2o.(X>o was being raised by the 1 Associated Chambers of Commerce to | conduct a campaign against the Govi ernment; whether lie was aware ’hat businessmen were being sent demands for amounts r.rbitrar.lj fixed by the I Chamber of Commerce and whether I such a compulsory levy wov’d exempt ' the donor from income-tax payment i on the amount given. Mr J. F. B. Cotterill (Government, Wanganuii gave notice to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the j improved position of shipping, repre- : s<“ntMiens would be made to the British Ministry of Shipping to have overse s vessels calling at New Zealand ports , revert to the former practice of load- , ing at the smaller ports? Mr Cotterill I said the smaller Harbour Boards , which had been prepared to make sacI rifices in the ws- effort considered that 1 the time had c-ime when there should j be a reversion to the pre-war practice. Newspaper Plant Mr w. A. Shear (National. Patea) gave notice to move for a return showi ing ( 11 tiie total number of import licences granted during the last two | years for the import of machinery and ’ or materials for the establishment of J new daily newspapers in New Zealand; '2> the number of newspape: . conI cerned in such licences and the localii ties in which they were to be estab- ; lished; :3> the value of such imports | licensed from Great. Britain. Empire j countries and foreign countries. Mr R. MeKeen 'Government, Wellington South) gave notice to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs whether his attention had been drawn to the result of questionnaires issued to residents by Iceal organisations in Hawera. Wanganui and Wellington to ascertain their opinions cn the licensing of bookmakers. Mr MeKeen quoted figures showing that replies were overwhelmingly in favour of the licensing of bookI makers, and said that as these figures I gave a clear indication of the opinion ’ ’ an important cross-section of the : community would the Minister take im- | mediate steps to facilitate the licensing i of bookmakers?

: Mr E. P. Aderman (National. New I Plymouth! gave notice to ask the I Minister of Defence whether he would i consider a scheme for granting priority I travel permits with State financial assistance to me ke possible visits bv : parents and widows to the graves of I sons and husbands who had made the > supreme sacrifice? If this scheme proved impracticable would the Min- : ister consider bringing back to New Zealand for burial in a national ceme- ] tery the bodies of New Zealanders who | died while serving overseas? Mr F. Hackett (Government. Grey I Lynn • gave notice to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce to instruct tliat priority to purchase be given to persons whose cars were impressed by i the Government for military purposes. , Mr Hackett said many private car; imi pressed had since been sold without the former owners having the opportunity . to repurchase them. War Against Japan Mr Cotterill. continuing the Address-in-Reply Debate, said that New ■ Zealand’s part in the war I against Japan should be considered. and as the matter was much in the public mind a decision should be ! made as soon as possible on the future of the Division. H understood the House would have an opportunity of being consulted on the matter. * Mr. ' Cotterill defected price controls. They j protected small man against big I combines, prevented violent fluctuations iin prices and ensured stability. While i controls were a wartime measure he : considered that price control should i continue after the war.

i Mr A. S. Richards (Govenment, Rosi kill) said that the history of private | enterprise was a black one. Tire only I political movement in the world which I could claim to be a truly Christian I movement was Labour or Socialism Labours aims were “all for each and I each for all." and not as in private j enterprise "the devil take the hind--1 most." Under private enterprise there ■ had to be a war every few years to I enable men and women to get a decent I uniform and decent food. Private enI terprise was the cruellest system in the | world, and would have to give way in many instances to State enterprise' Maori Battalion

i The Hon. E. T, Tirikatene reminded I the House of the deeds of the Maori i Battalion overseas, and said that i although the Battalion had been supi ported on a voluntary basis, there were ( always more available than needed. The | Maori was recognised as a fv.il brother Ito ’he pakeha and he insisted that ! mere should be no discrimination bel tween the races by the department ad- | ministrating rehabilitation. He referred I to an area of 40,000 acres in Hawke's Bay which had been handed over bv th” Maoris for the rehabilitation of Maori returned soldiers. He said even- Kaor; tribe and sub-tribe had a responsibility :n maintaining the Ngariinu Scholar- ■ ship Fund. He concluded bv coni gratulating the Government on its I efforts to improve the living condition - of the Maori race. Secondary Industries j Mr McKeen said New Zealand i manufacturers had seen asked by Pari Lament to establish war industries and I had done so, and now thev must be ; given a guarantee that their induo- | tries would contini - into peace, that , their employees would be enabled to continue in employment, and that the : mat hinery they ?.aa imported would I continue in use. No matter what Got - I ernment was in power it could not I give a guarantee of full employment I while one machine was idle. ManuI facturers iiad also to have the opnorI tunlty to secure r->w materials that : voulci enable o continue on a peacetime footing. Mr F Langstone (Govt., Waimarinci: Which means planned economy. Mr McKe- n sai,' the Opposition claimed that high taxation was preventing these industries from expanding into peacetime production, but at the same time high dividends were still being paid and reserves were : ing up and not on” shareholder had lost one penny piece from fees or I dividends because of taxation. It was I ali National Party propaganda and the j Nationalists had overspent tiu nselves. They would never persuade the workers of New Zealand to place themselves in the hands of Conservatives again. i After Mr Meachen had replied, the I Address-in-Rcply was approved. Criminal Ipi’cal Bill The Criminal Appeal Bill was introduced and read a first time. Tlie Hon. H. G 11. Mason explained that the right of appeal in criminal cases had been much more restricted in New Zealand than in Britain, where the law regarding appeals had Iven broadened about 30 years ago. The Bill provided for enlargement similar ' i to tha; in Britain; it did no* affect ' | any rights, but enlarged the authority ■ | of the Court of Appeal.