THE UPPER HOUSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 3

THE UPPER HOUSE

-Press Association.)

Members Defend Government s Policy INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT

(By Telegrwh-

WELLINGTON, This. Day. Pleasure -that when the Prime Minister returned to New Zehland from the [mperial Conference he had made it clear that it was proposed to develop secondary iudustries was expressed by the Hon. M. Connelly (Otago), in moving the Address-in-Reply in the Legislative Council to-day. Such a course, Mr Connelly said, would be advantageous not only in time of peril but in solving the unemployment problem the country. It would also create a market for primary produce in JNew Zealand. One industry he tkought the Government might pay particular attention to was the development of the oil industry. There was more need for the development of tho oil industry to-day than ever. It would be a calamity for this country to be left without oil to carry on its industries. Even it it cost a large sum of money tq develop that industry it would be very well wortn ^ Dealing with unemployment, the speaker said thaVwhen the Government camo into office the number of registered unemployed was 57,246. lo-day the number was 38,679, a reduction of over 18,500. "I hope, with the arrangements the Government has m hand, that at the end of another year we will have reduced the number of unemployed in this country by a further 18,000," he said, Commenting on opposition to the guaranteed price for dairy produce, Mr Oonnellv said it was evident that there were certain interests working behind the agitation at present that were not. trying to do the best' they could for fche farmers. The Government $jad fixed a very reasonable price indeed for this year's produce. The price of dairy cows was risiug rapidly, and that seemcd to indicate tbat there were farmers in this country who were not a wee bit pessimistic about the future of the industry under the guaranteed priceA The Transoort Aot Referring to the Transport Act passed- last year, Mr Connelly said he jvas satisfied that they wrnre _ getting good results from the legislation. It was essential that tho transport system should be adequately controlled. It was only rigkt that where wasteful competition had taken place there should be some co-ordination. In seconding the motion, the Hon. T. Brindle (Wellington) said that attempts had heen made to belittle the Government's legislation, but the vast majority of the people were happier and more secure than they had been for years. For 25 years Neyr Zealand had been going baekward socially, but he believed tliat the Govemmeut . now was trying to make amends. One of the saddest legacieis of the depression was the fact that so many people had lost their opportunity, Mr Brindle said. Hq was pleased to see that the Government was going to make some attempt to rehabilitate these people into useful occupations. There were warnings to the people to beware of Socialism. What was this Socialism? he asked. It was only a bogey-man used to frighten the people. It meant only planned society.^ It might be reduced to two principles. First, the maximum production of wealth, and, seeondly, the most equitable distribution of wealth. That was what the Government was doing. The Government was endeavouring to plan society where they would have- a system that would give every worker at least two weeks' holiday on full -pay. It was said that liberty was being taken away from the people, but a planned system gave security against poverfy amid plenty, and that was freedom.

They could extend the liberty of the people under a plaiilied system of society. Burdon of Taxation. "We hear a lot abput the burden of taxation, ! ' Mr. Brindle continued. ' ' There may be (some truth in it to a certain extent. For many years previous Goverhments. have been concerned to reduce the income tax. They did, but they transferred it to the Customs tax. Tney transferred it from the rich to the poor. They called that scientific. There is only one way under our present economie system whpreby taxation can be lowered. It can be lowered as we increase the amount available to be taxed. It is the purpose of this Government to get the productive capacity of this country to the highest possible extent. ' ' Mr. Brindle said he believed that the administrative furictions of the country, during the past two years, had been carried out efficiently and well, and had never been excelled in the history of the country. The people of New Zealand, he believed, were looking forward to a continuation of the present Government and with hope and confidence in the ftiture. The Council then adjourned.