ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 August 1920, Page 4

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

i SPEECH BY Mil SEDDON

(Hansard Report.)

, .Air Seddon (Westland). —Mr 'Speaker, ; I did not hour the speeches of the mover , and seconder of the Address in Reply, J but 1 offer them my felicitations, and hope they will have a happy time in • this Parliament. I rose to speak on I one or two matters; but alter bearing the very brilliant speech just delivered, I must make one comment upon the .remarks made by the member for Nelson. In that very brilliant speech of his he referred to the United States. Mo adapted George Washington’s “First . in war, first in pace” to “hast in war, last in ponce.” To me, Sir, i think 1 the honourable member would.do well to study the conditions in America. He j would do well to consider toe conditions just prior to tin war, and prior to that country coming into the war. He i would then give them some credit for I having come in at all. If one realises the mixed population in the States — the strong German element in New i York City and in the States of AViseonj sin and Illinois—the inducements there j were to the States to keep out of the | war as compared with the inducements j for us to go into it, one can realise how difficult it was for them to make up their minds, they came to the assistance of the Allies, and did wonderful work. The moral effect of trlieir coming in was inestimable. One only wants to understand the political situation in the States to realise that when President Wilson came back from liis trip to Versailles, where the Peace Conference met, there was every likelihood of his becoming a very famous man, though there was such political jealousy aroused in his own country at his ascendancy. Now there) is going to be a new election for President, and I hope when the election is over we shall he able to claim the Americans—who are really our kith and kin—as our great allies. What I really rose for, Mr Speaker, was not to discuss the Speech from the Throne, because it has been practically torn to shreds, or to discuss what is in or not in the Speech itself, but to ask the Prime Minister one pertinent question. J ask the Prime Minister, where . is the Minister of Mines in this Chamber ?

The Right Hon Mr Massey.—He is here. Mr Seddon. In the person of the Premier P The Right Hon Mr Massey.—Yes. Mr Seddon.—Another role that the Premier has assumed. Now, we heard last night a speech from the Premier—a' very elegant speech; it was a very dignified speech at times, hut at other times it lacked a little bit in dignity—and the Premier last night said—— Air Speaker.—The honourable member cannot refer to a previous debate.

Air Seddon.—Then 1 will not refer to the matter. We have heard the Premier at other-times in the House discussing the number of port folios he has; and when the Prime Minister looks over to me and says he is the Minister of Alines I do not think he intenus for a moment to assume control of that Department for any time. But 1 do look round and see smiling expectant faces on the Government benches. I hope they are not going to form another Progressive party. I say in all seriousness to the Prime Almister that the country wants a young, vigorous Alinister of Mines. We were told some time ago about an active, vigorous Alinister of Public Works, and we have got one. He succeeded a gentleman who was also Minister of Alines; and we want to see initiated in this Dominion an active and vigorous policy ns far as mining is concerned. The Right Hon Air Massey.—You will get it. Afr Seddon.—Not from the honourable member for Parnell.

The Right Hon Air Massey.—Be dignified.

Ah- Seddon.—The right honourable gentleman was not dignifid when speaking last night. Tlie Right Hon Mr Alassey.—Do not waste time. *

Mr Seddon.—l am not wasting time. This is the first time I have spoken this session, and I am going to say what I have to say, whether the Prime Minister likes it or not. The Right Hon Air Alassey.—l like it. Air Seddon. —I am very pleased to have the Prime Minister’s assurance. Sir, I have here a resolution from the AA’est Coast in connection with mining; it reads, — “That representations be made through the mem tier for the district to urge the. Government to appoint a Alinister of Alines, with the object of enun, dating a policy leading up to a more active and intimate interest on the part of tlie Alines Department in the development and expansion of the mining industry of the Dominion.”

Sir, people will realise that the goldminers carried on their operations under great disabilities when the war was on, and, the price of gold did not go up; but there were no complaints. In another industry, that of dairying, the Government came to the assistance of the producers; yet the miners made no complaints. The cost of living affected the miners as much as it affected any one else. Tlie cost ot materials increased by over 100 per cent, while tlie price of gold remained stationary. It was stated last night in this debate that the Alinistry could have assisted tlie miners by giving them some kind of subsidy. That could have been done. Generally, as soon as the gold was produced it had to be sold to the gold buyers. Had 10s been granted as a bonus it would only have meant paying to tlie gold producers £125,000. Jt could not be held until the conclusion of the war, and then exported in order to get a higher price outside New Zealand; only banks could do that. The miners had to go straight ahead and sell their gold to the nearest gold buyer, and accept what it was possible to get. Under these circumstances these men were at a disadvantage. At one time in the history of New Zealand, Sir, wc realised that the gold mining industry was one of the principal industries of the Dominion, for it assisted settlement. Before settlement could take place the minor went into the backblocks and started his pro speeding, discovered gold, began mining operations ,and settlement followed. Tf the Prime Minister does intend to retain the portfolio of Afinos I would

suggest to hjm certain ways in which the gold mining industry can be assisted —For instance, the Government should offer a substantial cash reward for the discovery of new fields. There are thoso people who say it is not possible now to find new goldfields. 1 say to them that away hack in the mountains, in places where prospectors - have not been, there nre possibilities of finding now goldfields, and if you offered inducements J think you would find people who would go out and endeavour to find now fields and so produce more gold. Another suggestion I offer to the Prime Alinister is that lie should more liberally subsidise for prospecting. The present subsidies are not lucrative enough to induce prospecting parties to go out looking for fresh fields. The third suggestion is the reduction of the rent on prospectingareas to a nominal sum. A fourth suggestion is to , erect small batteries, or even have portable batteries, for bulk tests of quarts. We have quantities of this quarts down in the Southern Alps. We find in gold-mining districts numbers of claims being worked out, and we have at the same time all the waterraces and supplies whieli were there for the use of tile miners in the palmy days. The water is going to waste, and the charges are not coming down. I would therefore suggest that all spare overflow water from those water-races be made available for prospectors of low-grade ground. All these suggestions were made at the .conference which the then Minister of Alines attended, and all the representatives who were present at that conference hoped the Government would see its way to' incorporate the suggestions in a Bill, or adopt them as its policy; but nothing has been done. Last session we had a gold-mining Bill which did not deal with alluvial mining at all, although it had something to say about quartz-mining; and it had a good clause—clause 7—in it in reference to the compusory use of the axial waterfeed rock-drill. I would also suggest that whoever is giving to take this portr folio of Aliues should take it up seriously. There is still lelt undone the geological survey of New Zealand. It is quite incomplete, and there seems to be no intention on the part of the Government to have it completed, it is a most admirable work as far as it has gone, and at the present time a party of practical miners are using the portion of the work that was completed by Dr Bell. On the West Coast several miners have gone ouL to places indicated by Dr Bell and have found platinum ; and just before the war plamuin rose from £4 to £2O ail ounce. We have goldfields right through the West Coast. We have minerals of different kinds extending from Alount Radiant, in the Buffer district, to M ilford Sound, which have not been properly prospected. We want the assistance of geological surveys, and also assistance from the Government. Referring to the legislation of last session, there was put upon the statute book another mining Bill—a coal-mining Bill—and there was ope clause in it which was hailed with delight throughout New Zealand, because when it was brought down to the House people thought the j Government were going to hasten on coal production and supply by the purchase of steamers to bring the coal from the coal ports up to the distributing centres. That was clause 17 of the coal-mining Bill of last session. Now we look round and ask ourselves, “Afliat has the Government done? Have any overtures been made to any company to build a boat, or have any overtures been, made to any company owning any line of steamers to purchase a steamer from it?” AVe find nothing lias been done; and when the Government had that power given to them last session, if they had gone about it in the right way and had procured a steamer, a good deal of the coal shortage would not have existed. Not a word has been mentioned by the Government about their intention to carry out the provisions which we, as a' House, gave them during last session; and I recommend that to the Minister, if he is still going to retain the portfolio. There is another question which I wiH speak on in connection with coalmining and gold-mining, and that is the generation of hydro-electric power to assist the industries. Throughout New Zealand we have electrical schemes in the course of construction. On the West Coast we have a potential scheme which, if the Government would assist us, would generate power to help along the industries on the whole of the West Coast. I refer to the To Aroha scheme. I have submitted the matter to the Minister of Public Works, and I trust he will help us as other districts in New Zealand are being helped. If be does so, the coal-mining industry, the goldmining industry, the sawmilling industry, and the dairy industry will all be assisted. It will make, too, for the comfort of people in the towns and settlements. The next question I wish to touch on is the supply of timber in New Zealand. Many questions have been asked about the timber-supply, and, coming from a timber district, I may be able to elucidate some of the difficulties. The, question has been asked, “Why are we still allowed to export timber when there is a demand for it in this country?” Th Board of Trade has the right to retain in the country all the timbeir that is wanted for local consumption, and they do it- What is over is allowed to be exported. The amount allowed to be exported to Australia, which is our market, is limited by Order in Council, and is a diminishing quantity. When the first Order in Council came in, authorising the diminution of the supply to Australia, it worked in an equitable way. ft it were to immediately shut out the export without warning to those in the trade it would be an injustice ; but the method followed under the Order in Council is fairer to the industry, and the export will gradually diminish, until it runs out in 1922. To shut down the export of timber without warning would mean throwing thousands out of employment. Another phase of the question must be looked at. AVe supply Australia with timber, such as kauri, rimu, and kahikatea; they in return supply us with coal. The steamers bringing coal from' Australia back-load with timber. It was stated at one time, whether authoritatively or not I do not know, hut it was commonly bruited about that the Government was going to shut down on the export of timber to Australia. The Australian people said that if we did

so they would shut down on their supply of coal to us. Mr T. W. Rhodes.—AA’e get hardwood too.

Mr Seddon.—Yes; we get hardwood, which we cannot produce here. Sir, that is the position at the present time, and it ought, to be clearly understood that the amount of timber that can he exported is limited, and that the amount is known to the sawmillers throughout New Zealand. Another question is asked: “Why is the price of timber so dear in centres like AA’Ullingtou, Auckland, and other places?” The price is dear because wages are high. Seventy per cent of the cost ml timber is due to the wages paid.

An. lion Member.—Seventy-live per cent.

Mr Seddon. —Seventy per cent was given out by the Board of Tiade. Then, take info consideration the cost of freight on the railway and on ships, and you will understand that the sawmiller is not getting a great deal out of it. And why is it that'timber is such a high price to those who want it? The whole of the timber going to Australia is from the West Coast ports and llokianga. The reason adduced why timber is sent from llokianga to Australia is that sufficient ships cannot be obtained to carry timtier lrom Hokianga to the distributing ports of New Zealand. 1 do not know whether that is true or not, as 1 am not conversant with the local conditions in the north; but R is a crying shame that wo have not got the ships, schooners, or other vessels to bring the timber wanted in New Zealand from llokianga to the New ZcaHand ports. Why should all the timber have to be sentha'pVustra 1 ia llokianga? The Erofffe* report from the Board of Trade is that the Government were trying to get vessels to bring timber from llokianga to the distributing ports in the Dominion, but they do not say that they have succeeded. Another point in connection with the sawmilling industry is that throughoat different parts of New Zealand soldiers are working in groups of six or twelve, and taking up areas of timber land and working sawmills as soldiers’ concerns, and they should be assisted in every possible way—as we have every right to —and anybody who aims a blow at the sawmilling industry to do it some harm is going to injure those men. Then there is the question of afforestation, and J would like to know what is going to be the policy in that connection, because it is a most interesting and absorbing study. Well, we have been reading in the newspapers that the afforestation policy of the New Zealand Government is being initiated outside this House for them by the Forestry League or some conference sitting in Wellington. Sir Francis Bell, no doubt., is a very able Alinister, and he has lofty ideas on the question, but J would like some other Alinister in this House to give us a lead. I read that we are going to have a Biff in connection with afforestation this sessfen and I would like to know what ;s going to be in it. It seems all right; but we do not want to read in the newspapers that the Board of Agriculture found, the man to initiate the policy of afforestation for us. I have read that article by Sir David Hutchins on tlie AVaipoua Forest, and I do not think we are very excited about the conclusion he came to. I think that if we are going to adopt the .suggestion from that gentleman, who is goin to set free elephants and buffaloes in our forests, and other wild animals—well, I do not know where we are going to land. I want to say this to the Prime Alinister: that we have in the new Director of Forests, Captain Ellis, a man of large expedience in Canada, a man with war experience, and one who will be able to put the Forestry Depnrtment and its administration on a practical basis. We hear all kinds of theories about demarcation, regeneration, plantation, training foresters and slyvicnlture; also, as to wliat can be done about our New Zealand trees in connection with wood-pulp purposes, and with the bark for tanning. AVe want a practical demonstration in that respect. It has been stated here that, we ought to utilize-our trees for woodpulp, because there is a shortage of paper in this country. About, eight years ago experiments with New Zealand timber were tried at my suggestion by the High Commissioner, in England, when it was proved that it cost so much to extract the dye from our timbers, that it would not be a payable proposition, and the English chemists who conducted the experiment would not recommend us to establish works here for the purpose of turning our wood-pulp into paper. AVe have on the AA’est Coast thousands of acres set aside as forest reserves, the timber in which is to he used for wood-pulp purposes; but we ought to examine the result of that experiment that was carried out in England on behalf of the Government of New Zealand through the High Commissioner. I am sure the report is available, and can be given to the Department of Forestry. Tton we are up against tile other problem ; that if we do not go in- for this policy of sylviculture, and preserve what we have got, and look after the forests, through which the sawmills have already gone, what is it going to cost this Dominion to train experts to do this work ? Tlioy certanly would need a course of instruction. AVe realise already how muclf it has c°st this country to plant exotics, and that to adopt this scheme is no going to he a paying proposition. I should like to know whether, when this Biff comes down, we shall get from the Government exactly what it is going to incorporate and when we shall have an opportunity to discuss it. What they regard on the AA’ost Coast as absolutely necessary is that the Rangers in charge of ■State forests throughout the Dominion should have more instruction in regard to the preserving of trees and of the areas where young fives are coming on. As far as we can be understand, tliese Rangers throughout New Zealand have not had education in regard to the preserving of trees and of the areas where young trees are coming on. As far as we can understand, these Rangers throughout New Zealand have not had education in regard to afforestation. The instruction could be readily given if we bad some school to which they should, bo sent for the purpose. I should also like to ask the Prime Alinister another question. During the war New Zealand was calling out for c oal, and the attention of the Dominion was directed towards our coal ports. AVe on the AVest Coast realise

that if anything should happen to the Greymouth bar Chero would he no way of getting coal away from Greymouth for the Otira Tunnel is still far from completion, and there is no connection by rail with Westport. There has been a possibility once or twice ol something going wrong with it. ■Representations were made to the Prime Minister, and ho lias agreed to bring in a Hill this session to put the Greymouth Harbour on a bettor footing. It is only right and proper that till's should be done, because the finances of the Hoard are in such a position that they cannot stand much strain. The endowments the Hoard originally had are not paying as handsomely as was expected—in fact the railway endowment is not paying anything—and it is proposed that the Government shall assist <Sie Hoard to meet its encumbrances and keep the port open. Last year it was thought that some very expensive dredging would have to he done at the mouth of the river, and the Board wondered where it was to get the means to do it. At the same time, there seems to be hopeless confusion between tile bookkeeping of the Railways Department and the book-keeping of tlie Hoard. When the Hoard asks for information blio Railways Department cannot see its way to give it, and there is no means by whicii the Hoard can get the information. The matter has come to a head, anu the Prime Minister has promised that this session a 13 ill will be introduced. It lias been suggested that a rating-area should be created on the V.'est Coast and all the people whe think they are going to be in the rating-area want to know how the area is going to he defined and what powers are to be given to the Hoard. At present we do not know how to meet the question 'because the instruction from the Prime Minister are in die hands of the Law Draftsman who is drafting the Bill and no one has actually seen its contents. I do not know how long this session is going to last. The Right Hon. Mr Massey.—Six months. Mr Seddon.—Six months! It sounds like a. sentence. Well during those six months I would like the Prime Minister to remember the necessity for this Bill, and I think lie will have several reminders from we. Now that I have him in a pleasant mood I hope he will realise tlie position in which I am placed. I want to get at the crux of tho question, and I and tho West Coast people want to know what is in the Bill. The Hoard has been labouring under groat disadvantages and tho assistance given last year at the (-lose of the session has helped the. Hoard only sliglily. The whole question, in fairness -to the Board and the residents of Greymouth, must be gone into thoroughly, and a Hill putting the .Board oil a sound basis introduced and passed. If tlie BiH is only coming to us at the end of six months it may not- be a very pleasant Christmas present. The Right Hon. Mr Massey.—l did not say that.

Mr Seddon.— But. we want to know. Evidently the Prime Minister is going to make it something pleasant. Sir, some honourable gentlemen seem to think that when I referred to tlie question of tho substance of the articles written bv Sir David Hutchins on the kauri forests I was drawing upon my imagination and being faoetkuisj but 1 was not, and I should like to make some extracts whit-' ill show that- I was not drawing upon my imagination. For instance, here is what he says about eleph a nts:

“There is much to be said for and against elephants at Waipoua. It- may bo well' to mention that I have been with them the best port of my life, and have shot three. “In the extreme south of South Africa, in the wet forest country near the coast of Knysno, in a climate and forest closely resembling Wnipoiu tie pluints were at one time abundant; and one herd, carefully preserved by the Government still remains. It would be possible, but not easy, to catch a pair of young ones, let them run wild in the forest at Waipoua, and catch and put the surplus animals to work, as it done in India,” and so forth.

“Buffaloes.—Buffaloes, however, are on quite another footing. They should be introduced without delay.”

And so on. Later on there is an article written for the Department of Forestry by the same gentleman, who studs the whole article with curious rhymes, which lie- calls “mnemonics,” and which, when one reads them, are most incomprehensible. Here is one : Increased yield Prussia in a 7-4 life, Was nine times timber and more’n ten times gold, Up to ten years before the present strife And the Forest Department one-for-ty years old. Prussian timber, 18£5G, one penny the cube But a metric tieky before the great feud. It rhymes, but I do not know whether that is going to assist any one who is anxious about questions of forestry. In all earnestness, I say that- members of the House want a lead so far as forestry is concerned. They want to know what the Government intend to do. Members who are in earnest upon the question, especially those who have seen how far our foirests are disappearing, would like something ’ more practical than mnemonics to help them. We would like to know exactly what the position of the Now Zealand forests is, and what the Department has to report and to recommend. My complaint always has been that in this House we have not a lead from the Ministry ; all tlijit we can glean about the policy is from the newspapers—it is only when we read the newspapers that we find out happening in tho Department of Forestry—and I think it would be the right and proper thing for a Minister of Die Crown to let us know what is going to be the future of our forests, and what is to be the policy regarding them. It is all very well for a conference meeting to decido and lay down rules and to report its proceedings to newspapers, but T think that when the representatives of tile people of the country—the people w T lio represent the sawmillers and those who own the forest eouritry—meet in Parliament they should have some idea of what tho Government Intends to do. That is my complaint about tile Government—that in this matter we have had no lead and no. suggestion from any Minister in the House. Well now, Sir T will for just a few minutes re-

fer to tho question of the returned, .soldiers in. New Zealand; and in. that connection I want to say that when the last conference of Returned Soldiers Associations took place in Wellington I had the honour of representing the Greymouth Returned Soldiers’ Association as their delegate and I was struck with tho number of delegates who cam© here from every part of New Zealand at their own expense. They spent the whole week and even Sunday, in considering the different remits from tho various organsations in Now Zealand. It was my first experience of one of these conferences, and I was’honoured, after hoarng tho delegates discuss the 1 questions remitted to them, to he placed on their executive as a member of that body. Now, Sir, I would like to bring before the Ministers one or two matters which concerned them most vitally. The proof that the men were in earnest was shown by the real live interest they took in the proceedings. They were most alert about furthering the interests of the returned soldiers, and I think their efforts will not bo in vain. A s far as repatriation is concerned, there is no doubt that the success of the scheme is due to three causes: one is gonerai prosperity of New Zealand; another is duo to the support given to tho scheme by the people generally ; and the third is due to the adaptability of the soldier. That, no doubt, was brought about by his training at the front, and the discipline in the oarnps and elsewhere. Certainly ho has been most adaptable as far as repatriation is concerned, and the scheme has been most successful and satisfactory. Less than 6 per cent, of the men who received gijants are irregular in their payments, and that low percentage spe.aks volumes for the men who received assistance. As far as the gratuity is concerned, that matter was discussed in the House last session; and although an effort was made to make it more than Is Gd a day the Government decided that the payment should be Is 6d and that has been adopted. When the scheme was. prpOQsed by Sir James Allen it looked as if every side of the question liad been discussed, and if every position had been taken into consideration; but still we find now that since the scheme has been put into practice there are anomalies in it, and these are receiving tho consideration of a special committee which was set up because it was found that a number of people who applied for the gratuity had been refused. Already this committee lias inquired into two hundred cases. These anomalies will exist in any well-con-ceived statute or provision, and it was to be expected that although the regulations under tlie Act of last year were discussed very fully there might be anomalies. I hope the Minister will give due attention to them in order that they may be rectified. There was one suggestion brought up to which 1 would ask the consideration of the Minister of Defence. I have brought it under ..is notice already in the form of a question—it is that when a returned soldier dies in New Zealand, the Minister should see that he has a fitting funeral, and that the local Territorials should attend the funeral to pay the last respects to the departed soldier. That question I have already asked in the House, and no doubt it is receiving attention. There was a special committee of the conference that inquired into the conditions of tubercular cases ot returned soldiers, and that committee sat for a considerable time, and made recommendations and presented a report to the conference. I do not know whether the whole of thoir recommendations have been submitted to the Minister or the Government, but they were grouped under four headings. The heading were; “Medioal,” “Vocation, al Tinkling.” “Pensions,” and “Repat. nation.” These are going to be submitted to the Government. Each recommendation which I hold here in this ]is* has been carefully considered and is backed up by resolution of the conference. I feel sure that when they are presented they have the sympathetic consideration of the Minister of Defenoe and, later on, of the Govern ment, because all the cases have been investigated. Specific cases have been mentioned in this report and considered by the delegates to the conference, and every one was presented to tlie conference on its merits and was passed by the conference. These have now been handed' on as recommendations to the Government, and I feel sure they will embody them in some kind of proposal, so as to give effect to the request. There was also the vexed question of i land-settlement. As far as the conference was able to ascertain, there are at the present time 6,000 landless soldiers —that is, returned soldiers who axe seeking land. That is the number that is given officially—6,ooo who are wanting land. The others, presumably have been settled, or satisfied, or do not wish to go upon the land as a vocation. These 6,000 men who want land are looking towards the central committee of the association to do something for thorn and to push this matter .with the Government. I feel quite sure that as far as the Minister of Lands is concerned he will do his utmost; but can he at the present time see in sight land for 6,000 soldiers? I do not think he can. I do not know whether the system of obtaining land which has hitherto prevailed is going to continue, because it is going to be a very oostiy thing for the Dominion. The Minister earlier in the debate gave a very lengthy reply about soldier land-settle-ment, and showed the expense that the Government undertook in order to obtain land for the soldiers. If such a system is going to obtain in the future I think it will run into millions ot pounds. Whether any other system can devised for obtaining land for soldiers remains to be seen. Whether the suggestion offered by the Returned Soldiers’ Association is going to he accepted by the Minister of Lands I do not know; but those are the figures given to me—that there are 6,000 men, and they want settling. Another direction in which anomalios have cropped np is in connection with the schedules to the War Pensions Act, 1917. That matter has been already referred to by the honourable member for Nelson. I had the honour, during the sitting of the conference, to convene a committee called the “Pay, Pensions, and Allowances Committe,” and this matter was investigated. While a little time ago the allowances given to soldiers were regarded as sufficient, taking into con-, sideration the increasing cost of living and other expenses, what was adequate a little while ago is deemed not to he so at the present day, and so a very

reasonable reqqest has been^ ode that the whole system be revised. I will read the remit for the benefit of the Minister. It camo from ,tho Auckland association:—

“That it bo an instruction to the incoming Dominion executive to take the necessary steps to have the schedule of pensions for specific injuries of the War Pensions Act, 1917, and the Second and Third Schedules therto regraded by the addition of plus percen-' tages up to 175 per. centum—that is, £3 10s per week—and the total percentage be tlie minimum pension for total permanent disablement, supplementary pensions and attendants’ pensions to bo over and above such rate, and that the dependents’ pension be increased pro data, and that HieAl'hird Schedule, of tho War PensionswVet, 1917, be regarded on account of certain anomalies existing therein.” As 1 say, that committee went into the question of the anomalies, and when one saw the discrepancies there were in tlie three schedules one realized that it wanted an expert committee to advise what showli be. done. Those experts should be medical men; and I think that with Brigadier-General Gavin, Colonel Wylie, and other men that wo have at the present day in the serviee of tho Government, those schedules could be revised and the anomalies removed. I do not think laymen ace capable of bringing in recommendations with regard to those schedules, because members -will realize that only medical men really understand the position in relation to those cases that crop up, and they are the ones to whom the matter should be referred. Medical men bavo a better knowledge of clasifying the disabilities of wounded and afflicted soldiers, and the allowances that will adequate compensate them for those disabilities. It was sug. gested this should be done. I feel sure that Brigadier-General Gavin and Colonel Wylie, with their experienoe would know a great deal about it, and would make the necessary suggestions and alterations. At any rate, I feel certain anomalies do exist—that was abundantly proves—and we think that referring the matter to such a commits tee of experts is the only way of getting over the difficulty. Another recommendation which was passed unanimously related to Anzac Day—that the 25th April should be a statutory -holiday. Whether the Government will do that I cannot say. In conclusion, I want to say one word about tho legislation of last session. I think that the members who were here kust session will remember most vividly that the 'Bill we all looked for was the Board of Trad# Bill. I remember standing on th e platforms throughout my electorate at the different meetings, and I made bold to say that the provisions of that Bill were of such a nature that they would bring down the cost of living, and that they would suppress profiteering and punish profiteers. We. all know that the Bill has not had the effect we desire. I venture to say that the members on both sides of the -Hojise—l speak ivithout party bias—were reckoning that, with a measure of this kind, in some degree the country and the Government would be relieved of the diffi. culty in connection with the vexed question of the high cost of living. Speeches were made by various speakers, who were full of hope. What did we find? I am not going to recapitulate the speeches delivered on this question throughout New Zealand in respect of the very little which has been accomplished by this measure. If the Bill is defective—if it does not go far enough—the Government should pass an amending measure making it as perfect as possible; but if the result obtained by the Bill lies at the door of tho Government they should see that the administration is altered. The hopes we had last year have not been fulfilled in the manner we desired. Sir, at thiß late hour I do not wish to detain the House. I thank honourable members for the very patient bearing they have accorded me. Finally, I would impress upon the Prime Minister, who is Minister of Mines for the time being, and upon his successor, whoever he might be, that all the suggestions I have made were offered to the Governmertfc over a year ago.

The Right Hon. Mr Massey.—Yes, about five years ago. Mr Seddon.—Oh. no; a year ago. They were made in the best of good faith, in the hope the Government would take them up. The Prime Minister will realize that a declining industry wants every possible assistance. Throughout the whole of New Zealand they are looking for the Government to do something in the matter of all those suggestions that I have given. They are the outcome of a confereno field at Hokitika to whiefi the representatives of various mining districts were invited ; they came from all parts of the Dominion. The discussions were of an earnest nature, and they .were all hopeful that Hi© Government would do some thing material to assist the mining industry. I do trust that this year we will have a mining Bill brought down and that the Minister of Mines will enunciate an advanced mining policy.