Immigrants and Detractors,

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 266, 4 August 1920, Page 8

Immigrants and Detractors,

Tho Government was pledged to carry out a vigorous immigration policy, and this mas being done. There wero men in this country who were trying their test to paipt the prospects of this country as bl©k as possible in order (to deter people from coming here. He understood that already agents had '..cen Bent to Britain with tho sole purpose of blackening the reputation of New Zealand. Was this a proper thing tfc> do, in view of the fact that the people of this Dominion lived under a more reasonable and progressive system than in any other kiid?„ Was it proper to try to prevent our felloVcitizens in Britain from coming here? Mr. Frascr: Provide homes for tho peonlo first, Mr. Nosworthy: "Thij honourable membe'r does not want people io conic,, here to,provide homed.'" He went on- to say that all immigrants brought litre by tho Government had been"dealt..with satisfactorily. Thoso who had not been satisfactorily dealt with had not come out under the care of the Government. To try to prevent, men from coming here to a country in need of men, in iced of workers of nil kinds, was an unfair and un-British attitude. The honourable gentlemen who had come tot this country 'to better themselves, and who did not 1 want others to.do so, 6hould. go bag and baggage out of the country. The great majority of the people were determined that tlhe Government should put down disloyalty and everything pertaining to it. Ho believed that tho workers of, this country were sick of the tactics displayed % sonio of their supposed representatives, and of the attempts niado to keep people from coming to this country. The LTberal Party was shattered at the elections. There were elements in it which he respected, and ho would 1m glad to welcome those honourable members'to work wifh tho Government in fighting some of the objectionable elements in the country to-day. He would, like to eeo these holding news similar to those held by the Reform Party join , in tho fight againsr.) disloyally. Tho! House, added Mr. Nosworthy, bad been told a great deal about what happened in America. He did not need to go to AmericaXfor his opinions. He wa.s satisfied with the country in which he lived. Mr. Wilford: Too dull to learn. ' Mr. Nosworthy: You have learned such a lot of political rubbish that it has been no uso to. you in your political career. The honourable gentleman has been crushed between two burdens for_ a long time. One of them is political mistakes and the other is political insincerity. A member: You are being very personal. ~ii Mr. Nosworthy:, I am going to. deal with some of the elements that have been fighting against v me personally and the Government witK which I am associated. I have no hesitation in calling a tpade a spade when it is necessary. The Minister defended 'the Government's wheat policy. If tho Government secured nn adequate supply of homegrown wheat at even Bs, or Bs. 6d. per bushel, it would be doing better than if U looked abroad for wheat that might be hard to get at 10s. a bushel.

Increased Taxation Advocated. Mr. G. FOE-BES (Hurunui) said the people had looked to the first Peace Budget for a definite policy and a promise of settled conditions. But they hnd been disappointed. ' It was not true that, taxation had approached the breaking point. The wealth of the country had increased greatly in recent years, and the heavy war taxation had been liorcie without much inconvenience. Tho limit had not been reached. He contended that the Government should havo brought 1 down a bold financial policy. The patriotic spirit of tho country had been far ahead of the' proposals of the Government during the war, since the National Ministry had been too dull an instrument to record public opinion, and he believed that even now tho wealthy people of the community would be prepared to faco some form of capital levy. The British Government had not hesitated to adopt, a bold financial policy, involving the repayment in one year or .£200,000,000 of tho public debt. New Zenland was putting only into tho sinking fund, although inflated prices for exports were still prevailing and the Dominion was easily able to carry increased taxation. A surplus of had been built up during the war, when enormous' expenditure was being incurred. The war wns over and the country was wealthier now than it had been then, and yet the Government seemed unable to create a strong financial position.' The Budget showed that the Government hnd not risen to the occasion. Mr. Forbes believed that taxation could be doubled without reaching the bfer.king point. He asked for information about, the next loan. The business people required to make their arrangements ahead, and should be told what the Government proposed. The raising of additional loans, instead of taxation, meant an additional inflation of the . currency. Mr. Forbes advocated an increased graduated land tax and increased stamp duties, so ns to give the. State a.share of onhnnced land values.' He complained that the Government had embarked upon a naval polity without consulting Parliament. Tho House hnd never had an opportunity to deal with Lord Jollicoe's report. \ Mr. Massey: 1 on.will get the opportunity all right. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr. Luke (Wellington North). The House rose at 11 p.m.