PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1923, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

[»Y TELECRAPIX—PER PltEnS ASSOCIATION

DEBATE RESI.'.MED. WELLINGTON, Fob. li Thu House met at II o'clock. Replying to Mr Wilford, Hon W. I l ’. Massey said there was absolutely no truth in the suggestion that Government proposed to make a third cut in certain departments through the medium of a reclassification. 'The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by .Messrs Lysnar, I)e l.a Rerrille and Armstrong, when the J louse adjourned till 2.30 p.ni. WELLINGTON. Eeb. I I. , Delayed).

When the House resumed tit 2.30 the debate on the Address-in-Ueply was continued by -Mr Side.v, lion Xnswortliy. Messrs Eorbes, llttwken. Holland, Savage and Masters. Mr Holland moved Lite following addition to Mr MTliord’s amendment: We would respectfully draw your Excellence's attention to .some ol the reasons why your present: advisers have lost the confidence of the majority of the people-in New Zealand: - (1) Tite Government financial polity and wage-reducing legislation, both with respect to the Public Service and the workers’ in private employment, has placed the burden of taxation upon those citizens least able to bear it.

(2) The Government has not made a. proper provision lor housing of the people, and has made no eltcelive attempt to cope with the problem of unemployment. ,3) The Government lias made no provision for increased and living standard of pensions lor the aged, and widows and orphans, the industrially incapacitated, and no pensions whatever for blind.

We would further draw your Excellency’s attention to the nnsalislactory constitutional position which Inis arisen as a result of the undemocratic nature of "the first past the post system, which makes it possible lor a minority to deteat the will ol Ihe majority, and this House is thcrelore ol opinion that the present Parliament should enact a bonalide system ol propot t ioital represent alion.