THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3176, 29 August 1917, Page 6

THE HOUSE

ELECTIONS POSTPONEMENT BILL,

Tlio Houso of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. G. "WITTY (Riccarton) moved for leave to introduce tlio Parliamentary Elections Postponement Bill. He explained that his Bill would provide simply for tho repeal of tho Bill passed last session, by which tho life of Parliament was extended from the end of this year until the end of next year. He had opposed the Bill at the time, so that he was consistent in his attitude towards the question. There were many reasons, ho thought, why members should go before the people to allow them to determine who should be their representatives in Parliament. A great many things had been done 6ince last election, and the neople should bo allowed to say whether "they approved of them. Injustices had been perpetrated upon the people by War Regulations which the Government would not have dared to pass had there been a chance of an election. Thero wero men being kept in New Zealand, men who.were the sons of wealthy people, who were kept in good jobs, that could be taken by returned men. Thero were hundreds of men who Had been called lip who were not in camp, and iheso Ehould be brought in before the Second Division men were callfd up. Scores of bungles had been made in the Defence Department because the Minister had been trusting , too much to his officers instead of using hie own comm.on-senee. And why did the Government not do its own ivoyk instead of appointing boards? There was.an Efficiency Board, but tho Government would take no notice of its recommendations. Tho Government had appointed a Board of Trade, and then had set up a committee,of tho House to take evidence from the hoard regarding its work. Could there be a more ridiculous position? The Government should inform the House of tho persons to whom every contract was let. It was said outside the House that the Government would not like to publish the Teutonic names of some of the contractors. What had the Government done to reduce the cost.of living? There had been bungles in,regard to the export of meat. It was outrageous , that the price of butter should be Is. Bd. per n>. iii a country producing more butter thnn could be used by tho pfople. Hβ accused tho Government of having bungled the -wheat supply insiness. It was no wonder that thero was unrest right through New Zealand, and that tho ppople were not satisfied with tho Government.

• Dr. Thackcr's "Chloroform'" Dr. H. T. J. THACKER (Christchurch East) said that he would vote to allow the peoplo of New Zealand to sny whether "this so-called National Government"..should continue- in office. Tho National Government might be returned to office, but the personnel of the Government would be altered. This country was being governed by red tabs and spurs, by red tape and quills, and by tho president of the Efficiency Board and the president of the Farmers' Union.'Tho worst blunder of the Government was the appointment of the Efficiency Board, and ho was glad the Government had refused to be ruled by this board. TV Government was continually kiteflying, to see which way the wind was blowing, always had their ears to the ground to hear where the dogs were Wiring, and where the game was likely to be. The Government had not taken tho House into its confidence, but had, instead, set up these spurious boards to find out how things were going. He csspecially criticised the Railway Department for having cut off suburban trains. He declared that the people all over the Dominion wero_ asking for an election, and that an election would "clear the air." Mr. Massey: Don't make too sure that you won't get an election. Dr. Thacker: "Nothing would please me butter." After Dr. Thaeker had gone on with some moro denunciation, lie concluded: "I feel as if I had given an overdoso of chloroform to the National Government, and that if I don't give some artificial respiration, administer some oxygen, they won't survive. ' The Minister of Defence. SIR JAMES ALLEN (Minister of Defence) said he could not take either of the two honourable gentlemen seriously. T"iey had had their bit of sport, and, tie would not care to spoil it. But he would say to those honourable members that there was no great credit in being iconoclasts in these days., They must offer something constructive. They had spoken only in generalities, and had not once got down to particulars. The member for Riccarton had said that the sons of wealthy people were being allowed to stay in New Zealand when they were fit and able to go to the front. Let him name ono such.man. Ho would state thaf not one single man, whatever his slass, had been retained in New Zealand because of his class, or because of his wealth, or for any other reason. He had been Warned for standing up for his officers. Ho had never backed up an 'officer who hail done wrong, but he did back up an officer against the improper criticism made for political reasons by members of the House. It might Iμ said that thero was a pertain amount of waste in the camps, but. this was iinavoidaMe. and tho. Defence Department was doing as much as possible to stop tlie waste, and make use of waste products. In this respect the Defence Department had fet an example which might with crrcat advantage be followed by many cities.

The Government was attacked because of the cost of living. "I venture to say that there is no country in tho world that has dealt with the cost of living as efficiently as New Zealand has done in this war."'said Sir .Tames Allen, "and thai: tVvc is no country in Hie world in which tho cost of livini? has risen less than it has in New Zealand." Ami there had been less industrial trouble in New Zealand tl'«'i in any other country in the world. When troubles arose the Government did not sit down and let them jio on. Tho Government tackled them promptly, and in every instance. T>r. Thackor: You nut the mon in gaol.

Sir James Allen: Well, if it is necessary ill tho interests of the nublic io nut men in gaol it is a ripht thing for the Government.'to do. (near, hear.)

Mr. Payne: It is an act of tyrrany! It iscowarilly!

Sir .Tames Allen referral to allesraHons about German si>ies lwinj; at lainr. Tlio policy the honourable gentlemen wlui ti'itl spoken seemed to favour waf thnt.nl) tlic men in tlio country vrliosr fathers had been born in Germany, had rorne to I\e\v Zealand and married Npv Zealand women, men wliose sons wove fighting and dying , for the oounl.ry," honourable, patriotic citizens in New Zealand, should bo interned. This was not

tho policy of tho Government, and lit would never approve of such a policy. The Efficiency Board. "Now with regard to the Efficiency Board —" , Dr. Thacker: The "Allen" Board. Sir James Allen: Well, sir, if it were an "Allen" Board all I can sny is that the Minister of Defence is exceedingly prond of it. But the Minister of Detenci did not appoint the board. It was appointed by Cabinet after due consideration, and the order of reference giver M tlie Board was approved by Cabinet. All the clauses in the order of reference directed the board to advise the Government. • They were given no executive power at all. . . . This Efficiency Boan -. was set up in response to a demand fron' the whole country. The country demand cd that we should utilise the business brains of the country and help us to carry on during the war, and the board was set up to investigate a number of matters that no Minister could find time to examine. I regret that it has como to tho position that the board hns giver in it 3 resignation. I hops that these resignations may yet be withdrawn, nr that at ' least tl-iv )( v--v will be continued to a useful end." One of the recommendations *f 'he Efficiency Hoard that had been adopted by the Government was that farms snd businesses should be taken over and managed by boards of trustees. Already about a dozen farms had been taken over in tho Auckland district. .The board recommended that men who were required for essential industries should be freed from home service work in. the camps. These men had been released. He mentioned a series of minor recommendations adopted by 'the Government and some few> that lad not yet been adopted. He did this to show that tho Efficiency Board had not been a useless l.mdy, but that it had done a great deal. The classification of industries had been one of the most important works of tho lward, and the classification f f workers in industry had almost been completed. Tho board had done an enormous amount of work in the preparation of statistics ■to enable the Government to be sure that enough men were held for (ssential industries. Mr. Fletcher: Why don't you put them in the Cabinet? Sir Jama; Allen: If tliey were in tlio Cabinet they could not possibly do the Tvork. It is because they are_ free of Cabinet and freer of political, influence —(a voice: "No, no!")—that they have been ab!» to do so much useful work. Sir John Findlay: What (-banco is th«re of their remaining in ofEco? Sir James Allen replied that he could not say. It was true that he had received the resignation of the board, and he sincerely hoped that , it. might be withdrawn.' He regretted thnt these attacks wefe made or. members of the board."believing that it would not be in the interests of efficiency for die country to lose their services. Mr. J. M'COJIBS ayttelton) said he would support tho Hill T-lis speech was Tather like some of his ntlicr speeches this session. He thought there sbouldbo an election, because the cost of living was too high, because the war profits were not being adequately taxed, and because the Dominion's contribution in men was too high. Another Board. The Hon/ A. M. MYERS (Minister of Munitions) said that he wished to speak in regard to the appointment of boards, .".nd especially those boards with which lie had been" associated. He wished to express highest appreciation of the assistance rendered to him in the administratiqn of his Department by the Supplies Board. One question had been raised as to the failure of tho Government to give the names of successful contractors. This was done for business reasons, in the public interest. There was no other reason.

. The Government's Attitude, The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) said that members of the House might not agree with the recommendations of the Efficiency Board on policy questions, but he thought all members agreed that tho work of the board in other directions had been admirable. Ho believed that tho people did not wish to change the Government in the war period. But he was not going to stand in the way of a general election. Mr. Payne: Now, that is really decent of you! „ ~ , . Mr. Massey. That is a ncrfecHy fair position that I take up. I know there are members who are advocating a general election. ■ An hon. member: Who would drop dead if they got it! ' Mr. Massey: "I know that perfectly well. But if there are enough members in the House who want a general election they may have it. As a matter of fact, I have not waited for the honourable gentleman s motion on this question. T am preparing for a general election now, and proof of this is in a Bill to come before the House If members want an election I for one am quite prepared to face an election. Members know my views. I believe it would be a wrong thing to hold an election now. Three of our own members are away from New Zealand serving their country, and they have gone understanding that no election would be held in the present year." He contended that the National Government was the only Govennent that could have done the best for llio country at this time. In war time It was not possible for any party Government to do it, because of tho way, in which part}- Government was conducted not only hero but all over the world. Things Done. "I would remind honourable i members of some- of the things done by the Government," said Mr. Massey, "We.have led the Dominions of tho Empire in th& number of men wo have sent, and they are inferior to none in military capacity and their general good conduct. We have sent more supplies of food to Britain than any other country in the Empfre, In the export of meat New Zealand is second of the countries of the world, Argentine being h'rst. In tho way of pensions and allowances even now—we know ours are not perfect, but we hope to improve them—they are the best in the Empire, which means that they are the best in. the world. All these J things have been done on the lead of the i National Governnient. . And what about ! Tjb financial position? Is there a country in the Empire whose financial position is as good as that of New Zealand?" 'dts concluded with tliis remark: "We have put up with these pin-pricks, amazing as they have Been, but we are not going to sit quiet any longer." AVhen the question was put, a number of members on tho . Reform benohes cried "No!" but Mr. Massey waived his ham' to them, and said, "Let it go." No Wfision Iras'called, and the Bill was introduced and read a first time. RIVER BOARDS. The Hon. G. W. RUSSELL (Minister of Internal Affairs) moved the eecond reading of tho River Boards Act Amendment Bill. Hβ said it had been found j that some of the existing river boards did not discharge their work efficiently. Ho hoped the time would come when a river' would be. controlled from source to mouth by a singlo authority. At present several authorities often worked independently. Some boards neglected their work and others protected - their owii areas regardless of the harm they might do further down the river. Tho Bill provided that whero the Government was satisfied that a river board within certain areas had failed-to do its work effectively a commission could bo set up to examine tho position and make a recommendation. The Minister on tho basis of this recommendation might require work to Iμ undsvtakon in order to savo land from beiDg destroyed. There were districts where the Bill would ''equire lo bo put into operation at an early dale. Mr. D. BUICK (Palmorston) faid that tho Bill was highly controversial in nature, and he hoped it would not be hurried to tho Statute Book. The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) said tho principle of the Bill was sound, but local interests would require protection. The Hon. W. .PHASER (Minister, of Public Works) said .the ncod for tho Bill was urgent. Some rivers were controlled by several river boards, each board seeking to .protect only its own particular area of country. Then boards drove the flood waters on to one another's districts, and for lack of expert engineering advico they wasted money. Tho con-' tinuance of the present' system .would involve the destruction of liuije areas of valuable land; • The Bill did not cover nil the ground. It dealt, only with certain portions' of the country.

Mr. T. JI. WILFOED (Hutt) suggests that tho Government should consolidate , the river laws. Mr. Russell; Aβ soon as the ivar is over wo are going to set about the reform of tho whole local government system. The.Hon. W. G. lIUSSELL, in reply, said that he would be disposed to instruct the proper officers to prepare it, consolidating Hill dealing witli river control, for submission to Parliament during the next session. Hβ was satisfied: that one. local authority should controt each river from its sourco to its moutli,. and he believed that these enlarged; boards 6hould have power to levy upon; the local bodies in the manner of hospital boards. He ironld not be preparedto recommend the resumption of the work of the Waterways Commission unless tho local bodies concerned were prepared to provido some part of the. neces? sary funds. The Bill was road n. second time. The House rose at 10.50 p.m.