ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 368, 9 March 1932, Page 12

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Members Discuss Problems Facing New Zealand. DEBATE CONTINUED. Per Press Association. * WELLINGTON, March 8. In the House* of Representatives today the debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by Mr I largest (Coalition, Invercargill), who made his maiden speech. He urged that New Zealand should manufacture a number of articles which she imported to-day. She should produce as many of her requirements as possible, where that production was not possible she should purchase from other parts of the Empire. Every endeavour should also be made to widen the selling markets. Mr Coleman (Labour, Gisborne) said the Government had definitely adopted the commission habit and was refusing to accept responsibility for any decisions of importance. Both United and Reform Governments had been failures, and it could not be expected that two failures joined together would be a success. The present Government was a failure and he would lose no opportunity of putting it out of office. Mr Stuart (Coalition, Rangitikei), another new member, made his maiden speech. He expressed regret that so much time was wasted in the House talking about practically nothing. He went on to state that in protecting the mortgagor the Government should not take away all the rights and privileges of the mortgagee. The Question of Exchange.

Mr Wright (Coalition, Wellington Suburbs), commenting on the suggestion by farming members that if exchange were allowed to go free farmers would benefit, he asked why was the same argument not used by them in respect to wheat last session. It was a case of

“Heads I win, tails you lose.’ Everybody admitted that if exchange was free to-morrow it would fall. What did the farmers hope to gain? They had been badly misled by their friends.

Mr Bitchener: Why do business men object to it? Mr Wright: To save you from yourselves.

Mr Wright added that the real object was to peg exchange at a high rate. Farmers could not

benefit because a great deal of the increase would not get into the farmers’ pocket, while the effect on State finances would be an additional burden of three millions. It was ad- | mitted that 50 per cent of farmers ! were not doing badly, but the same could not be

said of i business men, 90 per cent, of whom were losing money, living on reserves and going out of business. Members could see empty shops, telling a tragic tale, yet this o’ass was to be burdened for the sake of 50 per cent of farmers not doing well. He believed that -whatever the House or the Government would do the Bank of New South Wales would break away from the other banks and bump up the rate of exchange. He had no belief in the philanthropy of bankers who came to New Zealand at their own expense to give advice to farmers—one word for the farmer and two for the bank. “I would give something to know the names of those in New Zealand who are indebted to that bank, and it is possible it will be found that those crying loudest for a high rate of exchange are indebted to that bank, ’ he said. He -warned farmers not to be trapped. While they were heavily indebted to a bank it did not pay to foreclose, but if as a resist of high exchange their obligation were reduced, then foreclosure would be practicable. Farmers should be careful not to be led into a trap by skilful, able, clever men.

Mr Semple (Labour, Wellington East) declared that although the Government's pre-election slogan was “Vote Coalition and keep your man in his job,” one of the first acts of the session was to dismiss 8000 men on miblic works and reduce the remainder to slave wages. To-day the Reform Party was in power and Mr Forbes was only a figurehead. Mr Semple declared that the Government was the best ally the Communists could have.

Mr Chapman (Labour, Wellington North) advised the Government net to consider its mandate as involving the right to dimsiss thousands of employees, but to reduce interest by 25 per cent. Mr IT. S. S. Kyle (Coalition, Riccarton) suggested that members of the House should comprise the commissions and committees which were set up. There was no use electing members if full use were not made of their services. He devoted the greater part of his speech to advocacy of a higher exchange rate, contending that if farmers were able through this agency to secure an additional penny per pound on their exports it would mean additional income to the Dominion of £3,450,000. A Labour member: Who would pay it? Mr Kyle: The people at Home. The debate -was adjourned at midnight.