ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 1, 24 September 1937, Page 3

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

■Press Association.)

Wide Range of Topics Discussed MORE BUYING POWER

(By Telegrraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued by Mr. H. E. Herring (Mid-Canterbury) who urged a revision of the diet of the people of the Dominion and the setting up of a National Health Council for New Zealand. Mr. J. A. Roy (Clutha) said the Government had not produced the present prosperity. It had been created by the people by their production. The purchasing power of the people had been increased but this was not responsible for prosperity becanse the bulk of New Zealand 's income came from exports. Unemployment was still serious and the bulk of public works being carried out to-day were unproductive and of no great national benefit. Referring to guaranteed prices, Mr. Roy pointed out that the price of butterfat had been fixed but farmers' costs of production had not been fixed. In many cases the return of a farmer was lower than that of a skilled artisan. He disagreed with the assertion of the Minister of Public Works the previous evening that he had not had the support of members of the Opposition in his campaign to reduce the toll of the road. That statement hafc not been fair and members of the Opposition had been wholeheartedly with the Minister in his efforts in that direction. Mr. J. Robertson (Masterton) said the provision of proper housing accommodation on farms for farm labourers and their families would be one step in the direction of solving the difficulty farmers were experiencing in securing necessary labour. He wondered if members of the Opposition really beKeved their own assertions that they had carried the country safely through the slump. He doubted whether they did. If they did then their abandonment of the leaders who had piloted them safely through such trying conditions savoured of the grossest political ingratitude. For this reason he would be kind and say members of the Opposition did not really believe they had piloted the countiy through the slump satisfactorily. He considered the Labour Government 's xeduction of unemployment by 40 per cent. in two years would compare more than favourably with the recordi shown in any. other country. Moreover, Labour had never promised entirely to abolish unemployment. Unemployment would never be abolished entirely under any capitalistic system. The House at this stage divided on the amendment to the Address-in-Reply moved.at the commencement of the debate by the Leader of the Opposition, the amendment being defeated by 52 to 17, the voting being on purelv party lines. Cost of Hawera Aerodroms Mr H. G. Dickie, referring to Hon. R.. Semple's. assertion. that. public works were being carried out at cheap rates, referred to the levelling of the Hawera aerodrome at a cost of £32,000. In addition, he said, four or five ,days before Christmas it was found that there was a danger of the men being out of work, so the engineer gave orders for the construction of a drain so that the men could qualify for the Christmas bonus. The dairy farmer was much worse offi than before, he said, and he referred to the shortage of dairy stock ih the Dominion, stating that owing to disease the herds in Taranaki had been •Iraincd of yonng stock. TTe advocated holding a xeferendum among daiVy farmers on the Government 's marketing scheme, stating that he had made similar representations when the Marketing jBill had been before the House previously. When Mr Dickie 's half hour was n early up Dr. D. 3. McMillan moved for the eustomary extension of time in which to finish his speech, but objectioii to the exffension was voiced by Mr D. McDougall and Mr Dickie, under the xules of the House, was forced to.conclude his speech within the specified time allowed. Health Insurance and ! Superannuation Dr. D. G. McMillan said the farm labour problem was better than it had ever been. Ho expressed surprise that not one member of the Opposition had taken advantage of the opportunity provided by the debate to discuss the principles of prospective legislation mentioned in the Speech from the Throne. Personally, he desired to say something about two of the most important me.asures to come before Parliament, these being national health insurance and national superannuation. It whs a notable fact that in all countries of the world in which national insurance had been introduced every one, with the exception of Russia", had been introduced by conservative governments but most of them were b&sed on the idea that they were proviuing service for the poor. It seemed necessary, in his opinion, that in thit. country that point of view should be avoided. Health was no less important than education and culture. If it were right for the State to be respousible for education it was equally right for the State to take charge of national health. Again Mr McDougall intervcned when an extension of time was moved for Dr McMillan, and he had to conclude his speech on time. Mr K. J. Holyoake said the building problem should not bo as acute as it was to-day, considering the prosperous condition of the country. There were not so rijany houses being built as ehould be and the Government w.ould

ities should also be extended to rural districts. Mr D. McDougall contended that land in the Dominion had been inflated above its value and it was to this that New Zealand owed most of its present* day troubles. Government Hotusing Scheme The Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C., Webb) said it was true that houses could be constructed at a cheaper rate than that at which the Government 's houses were being built, but the Government • did not intend that their houses should be jerry-built. He would congratulate the Housing Department on the progress that had been made. As a result of the policy of the previous Orovernment the building trade was rui'ned and apprentices 'had been turned out of employment. Referring to his efforts to secure work for the unemployed throughout the Dominion he said the co-operation of the counties had been splendid. He outlined What the Government had done to find employ-^ ment for them and said he did not think it was fair for the Opposition to; accuse the Government of doing nothing! to solve the unemployment problem. MrJ Webb quoted figures showing the in-; crease in employment since the Labour Government came into office and said' that to-day there was scarcely a boy' or girl out of employment. The mere fact that the Government had reduced the hours and increased wages had stimulated industry. He also dealt with what the Government had done for the employment of unemployed Maoris and said no Government had done more for backblock settlers than the present Government. The House rose at 10.30 until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.