MOTION DEFEATED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 369, 10 March 1932, Page 6

MOTION DEFEATED.

House has Confidence in Government. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 9. The no-confidence motion of the Leader of the Opposition was rejected when the Address-in-Reply debate was resumed in the House this afternoon. The voting was: Against 48; for 26. Mr Atmore, Mr Black and Mr Wilkinson voted with the minority. Mr Reid (Coalition, Raglan) was first speaker upon the resumption. He advocated an increase in the petrol tax sufficient to enable rural lands to be derated at least to the extent of two-thirds. He considered this was justified on the ground that users should be made to pay for the roads. He suggested as a means of effecting economies that local body elections should be postponed for a year, and that the number of members of the House of Representatives should be reduced by half. He recommended that no fresh appointments should be made to the Legislative Council until its personnel had dwindled to about twelve. Mr Howard (Labour, Christchurch South) referred to the length of time that had been occupied by the debate, but expressed the opinion that the Government was not troubling about that, because it had not been ready for its job when it called the Flouse together. It appeared that whatever ideas members of the Government might have had, they became chilled once they were appointed to the Cabinet. Mr .Mason (Labour, Auckland Suburbs) supported the arguments in favour of increasing

the volume of currency. He said he understood there would be a deficit of about eleven millions next year, and if that were so the Minister of Finance had failed. However, a deficit of eleven millions would be better than one of three millions, because it was apparent that without some such

indication the country would not learn its lesson and adjust itself to the altered conditions. What Was Required. Mr Makitanara (Coalition, Southern Maori) recommended members to adhere to their prayers when legislating for the good of the country. Instead of that, they were tearing at each other’s throats. What was required was wise and cool judgment in those who were sent to the House to carve out the destiny of the country. Mr Parry (Labour, Auckland Central), declaring that he was tired of hearing members say that the farmer 1 was the only person who mattered, criticised the Government for what he considered its one-sided policy, which ignored the possibilities of developing New Zealand industries. The final speaker in the debate was Mr M’Dougall (Mataura), whose most serious point was condemnation of city extravagances, which, in his opinion, created the burden carried by the farming industries. The House adjourned at 10.50, the Prime Minister stating that the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill would be taken for its second reading to-morrow