PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15272, 23 June 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

A PLEA F(k THE SOUTH. TAXATION IN NEW ZEALAND. LAND GRABB-ERS’ PARADISE. By Telegraph.—Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Friday. Two Ministers of the Grown interposed before the debate on the Ad-dreSs-in-Reply was resumed to-day to make statements to the House. (These are referred to elsewhere.) The House listened with interest to the member for Awarua, Mr De La Perrelle, who made an eloquent plea for equal treatment for the South Island, which he said would rival Taranaki in dairy production but for irregular shipments. Comparing the rates of direct and indirect taxation of New Zealand with those of the United Kingdom, France and America, he said the Dominion was the economic plague spot of the British Empire as well as the land-grabbers’ paradise. Mr F. Hockly (member for Rotorua) always attracts notice from the Opposition, and though sharply heckled by them he ridiculed their and the Labour Party’s expressions of interest for Ihe farmers’ welfare, declaring that their knowledge of geography was no better than their concern for agriculturists.

Purifying Politics. The Hon. J. A. Hanan is suspected of making a jest of a very serious business. He has obtained leave to introduce a Bill, styled the election of Ministers and Party Reform Bill, which in addition to providing for an Elective Executive seeks to prevent Ministers of the Crown, between the issue of a writ for an election and the election itself, making any offer or promise to procure public money, loan, subsidy, or grant, for any public work in order to induce any elector to vote fob the return of a candidate. The proposal, of course, has been suggested by the allegations of lavish promises distributed by Mr Massey and other Ministers during the Tauranga and Oamaru by-election campaigns, but whether or not Mr Ilanan wishes to be taken seriously 'is not quite so plain. From time immemorial Ministers have been in the habit of telling the constituencies what they will do for them if they are maintained in office, and politicians on the other side have bid for support in much the same fashion. But Mr Massey certainly did seem to rather over-do this sort of thing in the recent campaigns, and a legislative enactment on the subject might help the way to reform all round. Address-In-Reply. ■ The debate on the Address-ln-Reply is proceeding by such easy stages that one might easily assume Mr Massey is in no hurry to get away to the Imperial Conference. He certainly is keeping his word not to drive the House. Mr J. C. Rollcston, the member for Waitomo, and a son of the Hon. William Rolleston, one of the big figures of New Zealand’s Parliamentary history, opened the debate with a very admirable little speech. He has not the presence of his distinguished father nor, of course, his experience; but he speaks much more fluently, and the House always will be glad to hear him. Mr Macmillan, the new member for Tauranga, also did well in seconding the formal motion. He makes no pretension to being an orator, but he is an authority on rural topics, and does not venture beyond his limitations. Mr Wilford was in quite his best form, and, though he attempted to cover rather too much ground, he made most of his points well. The Hon. C. J. Parr, .the Minister of Education, who was deputed to reply to the Leader of the Opposition, did not score heavily, but Mr H. E. Holland, the Leader of the Labour Party, striking a rather lighter note than usual, kept the Government side of the House awake the whole of the time he was on his feet. Mr Massey’s Intentions." The New Zealand Times is responsible for the statement that, in consequence of a rumour current in Parliamentary circles, it is probable that the Prime Minister will be asked during the debate on the Address-in-Reply to state his political intentions. A persistent rumour is afloat that, no matter how things may go with him in the near future, it is not Mr Massey’s intention to remain in politics very long. It is pointed out that were he to retire after attending the Imperial Conference as New Zealand’s representative, the knowledge he had gained in consultations with the other Premiers of the Empire would be lost to the Dominion. For this reason members of the Opposition are likely- to seek an assurance from Mr Massey on the point before they vote on Mr Nash’s proposal that the Prime Minister represent New Zealand at the Conference. In advocating in the Legislative Council that the Premier should go to the Imperial Conference, Sir Thomas Mackenzie referred to the rumour that Mr Massey might relinquish public life. He suggested that Mr Massey should go to London as New Zealand’s representative and accept a seat in the House of Lords, where he could continue to do good service for New Zealand.