PARLIAMENTARY.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1926, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

UNEMPLOYMENT. WELLINGTON, June 22. During the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill, the Hon A. D.McLeod said that a country dependent to a great extent upon primary products must suffer from market fluctuations. In view of this it was imjierative that our people, not one section only, hut All our people, should exercise some degree of thrift. Tliis spirit and practice of saving had unfortunately almost disappeared and much of our unemployment problems was due to the fact that many of our single men who followed seasonal employment did not put away any of their wages foe a bad winter, and were consequently up against it. He still said the unemployment agitation was of a political character, lie could produce advertisements calling on men to meet and demand their rights, no suggestion that a solution of the problem should be found but that the road of the Government: should he made more difficult. The money spent on this class of propaganda would have gone distances in providing relief for some of the unemployed. It had been said that land settlement would solve the unemployment problem. He did not think so. because unless men understood the business of funning waste lands they were taking a terrible risk. It would he criminal to pul inexperienced men on such land, and he would not countenance such a policy. A) e would have to write off ten per cent of the money snout on soldier settlements, hut. if we were going to put men oil pumice and other lands a much larger percentage of less would have to he home by the general taxpayer. There was still room for subdivision in New Zealand. At the proper moment the Government would not hesitate to put the compulsory clauses of the Act into operation and take la nil necessary for settlement. He warned people against the delusion that a fortune was to he made oil the land. With tin* present liuctuat ions in markets it was much easier to make a living in the towns, and men preferred to Htav there and he did not blame them. PARTY SIM HIT DEPRECATED.

Air Forbes said that sympathy with the unemployed was not the monopoly of any party. All were sympathetic but the causes were to some extenl beyond the control of every parly. Prices of primary products had lallen seriously, and that must he rcllectcd in the towns. AVhnt was wanted to help tlie unemployed over the crisis was to find work on a systematic scale, and the whole scheme of unemployment should ho carried out in a whole-heart-ed way. AA'ith regard to immigration he believed wo had a duty to the Empire to help to solve ils problem o! distribution of population. At tlie same time excessive introduction of new people imisL in times of depression affect our own labour market, theielore he advised caution in this direction. As to the amendment moved by the leader of the Opposition, he did not think it would help unemployment. He did not think any good purpose would lie served by approaching the problem, in a hostile party spirit. What they should do was to let the Government know what the mind of the House was and lei the Government know that the House was behind them in taking all necessarv steps to cope with tlie difficulty. That, he thought, would serve a better purpose than a hostile amendment. Tie understood it was intended to give the Highways Board power to spend a larger sum. and this should he given, for there was unn h necessarv work to be done in making main roads Hiorter and safer, and on which the unemployed could he set to work with advnntag'. SIR JOSEPH WARD SPEAKS. Sir Joseph Ward said there had been unemployed in New Zealand every year since lie entered Parliament, and ii was impossible to avoid that problem, because men could pot he employed so profitably in the winter months as in the summer months. Personally, he lavGiirod work being given to every man legitimately out of work, hut if unemployment, was going to he made a question of no confidence in the Government. that would have to he done every war lor many years to come. In view ol the odium which the llelorm Party had in. the past heaped nil the Liberals because of their advanced land policy, lie was glad to he there to Item* the Minister of Lauds say 1m would enforce the compulsory clauses "I the Land Act to acquire land for soiLlenient, lie regretted the introdiicj linn of party politics into the matter ot unemployment, because the Labour I’arLy extended far beyond the igentle•wn who sat as Labour members in Parliament, and there was evident sympathy with the unemployed. ife hud the greatest admiration for the -Minister ol Lands, and he urged him to take the hull by the horns and reduce the value of high-priced lands which no one could profitably occupy. A\ c must also readjust our Customs tariff and encourage our seooudarv industries as the people of Australia wore doing, ft reproductive works were found, he would assist the Government to. do anything necessary to provide for the unemployed.

THE TMMIGBAXTS. The Prime .Minister said he desired to thank members of local bodies and private employers for the assistance given in providing for the unemployed. He regretted the introduction of the political element into the debate, because all the Government was concerned about was whether the men required work, and to find it for them. It was agreed sonic time ago that all men "ore to he registered by the Labour Department. Official figures showed that there were 83“ men employed in Hie Dominion, and mnnv of the stories of extreme distress were often found to be without foundation. The shipping strike seriously interfered with the Government’s immigration policy, because people who should have arrived here months ago were only arriving now, but the Government had made contracts with them, and those contracts would bo carried out. All it meant was that they have would to set out a programme several mouths ahead and he was confident they would pull through. Some might not he pleased with what was being done, but the Departments had their instructions what to do, and he believed they were doing it. He denied that the Government was responsible for misleading statement* in England to migrants. On that point Sir James Allen was most careful, and proof of the excellence of the migrants coining out was the fact that less than 5 per cent had failed to redeem their obligations to the Government.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION THE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, .Tune 24. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 The Council passed the Imprest Supply Bill and Local Authorities Empowering and Belief of Unemployment Bill through nil stages unamended. Speeches of tribute to the memories oi the late Hon. Meslop, Campbell and Geddes were made and the Council placed on record its sense of the distinguished services of thess deceased gentlemen. THE HOUSE. The House met at 2.30. The following Bills were introduced and read a fit-st time:—Summer Time MiiittiiiaMad

port Control Amendment Bill (Mr Veiteli).

Mr Holland (Buller), gave notice of intention of introduce the Nationalisation of Coal Mines’ Amendment Bill. The Speaker read an address to the House by the Fai Panics of Western Samoa, expressing loyalty to the British Crown and gratification at New Zealand’s administration wider the League of Nations’ mandate. As a token of goodwill they sent several emblems of the Samoan Native Government. These Hon. Nosworthy announced, would he preserved in the spirit in which they had been sent. At 3.30 p.m. the House adjourned till 7.30, when the debate on the Ad-dress-in-Rieply commenced. Mr IT. L. Taploy (Dunedin North) moved that a respectful address he presented to His Excellency's speech. Tliis motion was seconded hy 31 r W. .Tones (Marsden), both members making their maiden speeches, at the conclusion of which they were loudly applauded. The adjournment of the debate was moved hy the leader of the Opposition and the House rose at 9.1-3 p.m. til! 2.30 next day.