PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20492, 10 March 1932, Page 14

PARLIAMENT.

ADDRESSINREPLY. CONCLUSION OF DEBATE. LABOUR AMENDMENT REJECTED (r«»9S AgSOCIiTIOK I'KLSJiIUI.) WELMNGTON, March 9. In the House of Representatives today, the debate on the A-ddress-in-RepJy was resumed by Mr D. S. Reid (C., Raglan), "who 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 that that wis justified, on the ground that the users should be made to pay for the roads. Mr Reid suggested as a means of effecting economies that the local body elections should be postponed for a year and that the number of member of the House of Representatives should be reduced by half. He believed that forty members could carry out the country's business just as well, and, perhaps, a good deal better than eighty members. He recommended that 110 fresh appointments should be made to the Legislative Council until its personnel had dwindled to about twelve. Government Criticised. Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., 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 had called the House together. It appeared that whatever ideas members of the Government might have had they became chilled once they were appointed to Cabinet. Mr H. M. Campbell (C., Hawke's Bay), remarking that tho third week of the session had been commenced, said he was surprised at the time that had been wasted. He failed to see why any Government should not have had its legislation ready before calling members together. He agreed with Mr Reid that a reduction of the personnel of the House would be a good plan, believing that a smaller number of energetic members would adequately deal with the increased number of . constituents. Mr H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) supported the arguments in favour of increasing the volume of the currency. He added that he understood there would be a deficit of about £11,000,000 next year, and if that was so the Minister for Finance had failed. However, a deficit of £11,000,000 would be better than one of £3,000,000, because it was apparent that without some such indication the eountry would not learn its lesson and adjust itself to the altered conditions. Mr T. Makitanara (C., Southern Maori) recommended members to adhere to prayers when legislating for the good o£ the country. Instead of that they were tearing at each other's throats. What was reqiured was wise and cool judgment in those who were sent to the House to carve out the destiny of the country. '

Against Inflation. Mr H. G. Dickie (C., Patea) said there was no more iniquitous form of taxation than the inflation of the currency because it taxed the working man to the same extent as the wealthy man. In Germany during the inflation period the whole of the people's savings had been wiped out and the only individuals with anything left had been those who had property. Mr Dickie declared that the exchange rate should be allowed to And its natural level and should not be pegged at a high rate, because this amounted to inflation; Mr B. McKeen (Lab., Wellington. South) urged those members who were emphasising the farmers' difficulties fo remember that people in the cities also, had difficulties. Farmers were at least able to provide food for their families, but there was evidence of malnutrition in the cities. Government Defended. The Hon. J. A. Young deprecated the ■ Opposition statements that Mr Forbes was the tool of the Befor'm Party, and said Mr ( Forbes had the respect of his colleagues, and . yras well worthy to occupy his high office. It was an old game to attack the Leader instead of his policy, in the hope of destroying the political Party. , Beplying to Mr Atmore's description of the Government, Mr Young recalled that after entering the WffM Ministry in December, 1928," Mr Atmore pro-, mised a deputation that he would produce his education policy in three weeks, but that undertaking had not been 'fulfilled as late as November in the; fpUomng' yean. A committee was i?et up the whole question of education, wdth a view of discovering a policy, and it not until Aiignst, 1930, that its report was presented to Parliament. When Mr Atmore ' accused the Government, which had npt ljeen in office six months, of shilly-shallying he 'inust remember that by comparison he. was not in a position to offer criticism. Mr Young claimed that the Government had implemented many important, items of policy since assuming office. Befernng to* the exchange rate, he said farmers were sit least entitled to a free exchange. Any action tending to keep the rate below its natural figure would be definitely unfair to the farming industry. ... 'Mr J. McCoinbs (Lab., Lyttelton) • charged this" Government with making frantic efforts to keep, the Address-in-Keply debate going because it did not • have its legislation ready. He asserted that the debate would have ended at 5.30 this evening had the Government not rushed in the Minister for Health to till the breach. Mr McCombs went on to review tlie events leading up to the Coalition, and added that from the day it was formed the Liberal Party had ceased to exist.

Fraseat Problems. / Mr A, M. Samuel (0., Thames) expressed the opinion that there was a ji> .definite.necessity, far-the .complete over- {! < haul, of the land .With., the prob- |/ lens associated. ar debts and r reparations. The <^stiori ; ot the method I of £ menfc in-the forinpf, * agreement., The civilis- | ation -was I alteration could «bf about j by penalising-.one secjfciaavqffthe comi. mnnity. Anyjreductionof *wpges should ■; be accompanied by. 1 a of the \ jcost 'of living', and -all dxed • charges i&onld comedown. \ Mr Bamuel suggested; that with the I ««wctM>B.,©f tie Government. 1 a Comrnisj sion should 1 be appointed representative j of sail' sections of the community, includ- || ing every social and religious organisat^nf/fOrthe purpose'of alleviating the j. wintered iri'NeW Zealand during. the j ( winter. "He-btSieved 'that thousands- of; f - sfWpJ* FgW waiting; for a lead and •WW Mw to titt'tanaer of an orgasis-

ation such as this. ' There were many ■who could give £ 1000 or £2OOO to the cause ■without missing the money. He recommended. the Government to raise internal loans for. land settlement and a scheme for'the relief of unemployment. Awaiting a Lead. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) .said he believed many of the country's troubles ■were due to the Government -waiting for the position abroad to improve;,. A great deal ha,d been said about the position of the farmers, but to be fair* the position of the rest of the community should . also bo stated. The farmer could not get along without the rest of the community. He could not grow his clothing and he could not carry his produce to market on his back. JFhe rest of the community was just as necessary to the farmer as the farmer was to the rest of . the community. Cabinet was waiting for the Governments of other countries to do something, but the trouble was that all other Governments were doing the same, and consequently nothing .was being achieved. .. i Mr Parry urged that men employed in breaking in land should be rewarded in accordance with the value of the work they were dopg, but instead of this others would ultimately benefit when the. depression parsed. Mr D. McDougall (C , Mataura) ex- • pressed.the opinion that - the farmers' problexnsr were not so much a question of interest rates 1 as of the amount on which they had to pay interest. He did not think the cost of living had come down as much as it should have. Amendment Defeated. The division on the Labour amendment of no-confidence was taken at the conclusion of Mr McDougall's speech at 10.30 p.m. Tlio amendment was defeated by 48 votes to 26, Mr H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson), Mr G. C. Black (Ind., Motueka), and Mr 0. A.. Wilkinson (Ind., Egmont) voting with Labour. The formal Address-m-Beply motion was then adopted. Arbitration Bill To-day. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Forbes said the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment-Bill would constitute the : business, for to-morrow. When that was concluded the opportunity would be taken to consider the Economists'; Report.- H« expected to be able to present the report, of the I. Economy.Committee within a 'day or sol The House rose at 10.45 p.m. till 2.30p.m. to-morrow.