ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1917, Page 1

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

SIR JOHN FINDLAY’S SPEECH ; Speaking on the Address Iplv, Sir John Findlay said that he had better define his position in (the House by reviewing tlie ['changes which had. taken place in '-the politics of the country as the [ result of the formation of the 'National Government! To his .mind the National Cabinet resembled not so much a legislative .as an executive Government, and that we were governed less by Act of Parliament than by Order in Council. When elected he stated ;tliathe would support the National ‘Government, and although lie felt that lib; field of criticism had. narrowed as against the course of events as moulded by the present National Government, he eulogised the great work'-done by the Minister ot Defence, but censured the blind and unreasoning support of his subordinates. The visit, ofjthe. Premier ami the Minister of Finance to Great BriS tain was bound under the horizon, of a country-created ideal which led us in the direction that New Zealand must not live and act for herself alone.r It thereby helped to prepare the way for-the new : British Empire which was going to arise after the war. He thought that the faul ts of the Ministry were as thick as dust in an. empty chamber. He was bound to refer to the magnificent service rendered by Sir Joseph Ward in placing the Dominion on a sound financial basis by the arrangement he had made in connection with our loans. ■He regretted that in' the party truce the party spirit was not sufficiently suppressed, and he did not think that the personnel of the ! National Cabinet represented the ablest men in the House. The principle of selecting Ministers or even members from both sides was bad. The ablest men should be selected, even if they came fioin outside the House. Calling the ablest men to the Councils of the country would have avoided the , necessity of setting up all kinds of boards, the very existence of which proved the incapacity ol the Government. He urged that il the Government was not working with a spirit of harmony it must govern inefficiently, and the rumour which : was loud, distinct, and articulate, indicated that the members of the National Cabinet were not' acting 1 with the fine co-operation necessary for efficient work. He complained that the Government was not sufficiently candid witli the House. With a nonpatty House such secrecy was unwarranted. The House should not be left in the dark as to the data on which the-^Governmeut was acting. With suelTa Government there was vital need of a vigorous administration, such as we had not had. As an instance, he quoted the operation of the Board of Trade to prevent, ' the exploitation of the people. Not until that hoard came under the I charge of the Hon \\ . D. S. MacDonald, did it become a true force. The main fault of the .Government was its liability to grasp the nettle of its difficulties. vßoldness was greater than prudence in a crisis such as we were passing through. A courage, which was just blit firm, that would lay hands on monopoly and exploitation, was what the country needed. If inspired by that courage, they would hear throughout the country, not deep-seated rumblings and grumblings, but the crowning reward: F Well done, thou good and faithfyd servant.” I As its first great. national duty he considered it the business of the Government to promote (i) equality of sacrifice.; (2) national efficiency and economy ; (3) that the best provision be made that can be made for returned soldiers; (4) ample provision for discharged soldiers and dependents. Fie criticised tlie tendencies of the Government towards wealth, which if it had been conscripted as the soldiers had been, there would have been 110 shortage of means with which to provide our men with adequate pay and pensions.