PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1928, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

<+«» (By Telegraph—Press Association). THE COUNCIL. AVELLINGTON, December 7. In the Legislative Council the- Ad-dress-iii-Reply was moved hy Hon. (low. was seconded hy Hon. .Moore and agreed to, without deflate. THE HOUSE. AVELLINGTON, December 7. '| he Rent Restriction Continuance Bill (Mr R. Eraser) was introduced and read a first time. The Government laid several papers on the table setting out the financial position of the departments for the first seven months of the year. To this course Sir Joseph AVard objected, and called for a division against it. On this occasion Labour voted with the Government and the L nited Party was defeated by 43 to 33. The division list is as (follows: — Ayes (43)Ansel!, Armstrong, Barnard, Bitchener. Burnett, Campbell, Carr, Chapman, Coates, Dickie, Field, Eraser, Hall, Hamilton, Harris, Henare, IT. Holland, H. E. Holland, Howard, Hunter, Jones, Kyle, Langstone, Linklater, Lysiuir, McCombs, McKccn. MacMillan, Mason, Massey, Munro, Nash, O’Brien, Parry, Pomarc, Samuel, Savage, Stewart. Sullivan, AA’aite, AVilliams, Wright, Young. Noes (33): —Atmore, Black, Bodkin, Broadlbot, Clinkard. Cobbe, T)e La Rerelle, Donald, Fletcher, Torbes, Hawke, Healv, Hogan, Jenkins, Lye, McDonald, jicDougnll, MacPlierson, Makitanara, Martin, Munns, Murdoch, Ngata, Poison, Ransom, Rutliwoith, Smith, Stallwortliy, Taverner, A r eitch, Ward, AVilford, Wilkinson. A motion was moved by Air A. E. Ansell (Chalmers) that a respectful address he presented to His Excellency in reply to His Excellency’s speech. It was seconded by Mr A. AV. Hall (Ilauraki). o this Sir Joseph AVard moved an amendment that the House had no confidence in the Government. The debate was continued by Hon. \Y. D. Stewart, Messrs H. E. Holland (Buller), Lysnar, AVilkinson, and Wright. • 'l’lie debate was adjourned on the motion of the Prune Minister, and at ll.io p.m. the House rose till RkdU next morning.

the premier replies.

AVELLLNGTON, Dec. 7. Ministers presented a number of departmental reports and they were ordered to be printed. At if).3o the Prime Minister began his speech on the motion before the House and Sir Joseph Ward’s amendment thereon. He opened by making extensive quotations from newspaper reports of AYard’s speech at Auckland, to show that he was not intentionnlh misrepresenting him, when he (Coates) criticised liis policy as one in whic* seven tv millions were to be raised in one rear. After Sir Joseph Ward’s correction’ was made public lie (Coates) bad not repeated bis former criticism. He expressed keen disappointment that Sir J. AYard’s speech yesterday was not fuller in details, as to how lie proposed to do with it. He had indicated that lie proposed to do some railway construction out of surpluses, but he had to get the surpluses first. Ten millions would not complete tlie unfinished railways and they could not be finished in four years. The day for haphazard expenditure in New Zealand had gone. Hon. member—lt finishes to-day. Continuing, Hon J. G. Coates said few people had little idea of the economic effect at the completion of these lines. He had made himself familiar with the facts of the case, and he said if they endeavoured, to do construction work by big contracts, they would not get it done as cheaply as if they let labour contracts in New Zealand, where they had men well able to do that class of work. Sir Joseph bad not shown that tlie railways he proposed to complete would make an economic return to the country that he anticipated. Money wasted had to be paid for and they had to carefully examine eaclx case, arid consider whether they were wise completing all the lines suggested by Ward. Mr Coates continued: They Had engineers in New Zealand as good as any in the world and although Mangaboa hydro-electric works was constructed at the most expensive period, he was confident that the scheme would yet bo profitable to the country. Tlie reason they had let certain works to large contractors was to give the system a trial. There was a wide publfc; demand that this trial be made, but he was now of the opinion that our public works could be more cheaply constructed by labour contracts with good engineers to guide them. The point, however, was that it was necessary to go most carefully into the cost of the railways proposed to be finished by Sir Joseph AVard, and the economic results to tho country. It would be found that milch more money than Sir Joseph AVard anticipated, would lie required, and the results in many cases were problematical. AVith regard to tlie sixty millions to lie lent to settlers, he said this would mean the State would become the only lender and that was not a good tiling. There was more money available for investment in New Zealand than for many years and tlie rates of interest were falling. He maintained that the high rates of interest were not the farmers’ trouble. In this country there were other charges such as local rates and cost of transport which were more serious. His Government had done much te l-elieve these burdens. Sixty millions would not give Ward what lie wants but be strongly recommended him to set aside a portion of this money for the development of new country. If this were done a certain measure of support would come from him. It was on the

primary producer that we must depend for stability, and the money must be expended in such a way as to encourage this living asset. After making a feeling reference to. the illness of the King, Air Coates said he had no feelings of rancour about the election and if he could 1h? of any help, he would always be ready to give his assistance for what it was worth. He made a special plea for fair treatment of the Native race, who were above all party consideration. There was room for great development in tho North Island, especially in Taupe district, and he urged that whatever Government might come into power it would not neglect this great national asset, which might not return the expenditure immediately, but would do so in years to come. In making appointments the Government had never made political colour a consideration. They had always tried to get the best man, so that there might be sound administration. AA'itb regard to Samoa be advised politicians to leave the Administrator to administer Samoa. They could have absolute confidence in Colonel Allen, and he urged that he be left alone. He was not adverse to invalidity pensions, but it would cost roughly three hundred thousand annually, and the method of arranging details was most complete and difficult. He justified the'Government’s care of returned soldiers, and indicated other points of legislation and adminstration to which his Government had intended to give support. Ho then reviewed the circumstances under which lie came into tho leadership of the Reform Party, and the problems they had to face, He'claimed they had done good work, but if that good work had not been recognised by the electors, that was unfortunate. They found the country with an adverse position. Alinisters had worked, assiduously, and had never let up, and had provided a sound, capable, honest administration. They were handing the country over in a very much hotter position than they had found it.

GOVERNMENT DEFEATED.

BY 50 TO 28. AVELLTNGTON, December 7. Tlie House met at 10.30 a.m. The House then proceeded to take a division on Sir Joseph Ward’s amendment of no confidence in the Government, which resulted as follows: For the Amendment 50 Against the Amendment 28 The division list was as follows: FOR—so— AlcDougall Atmore McKeen Ha i n ai d MacPherson El nek Maketanara Bodkin Martin Broadfoot Mason Carr Munns ; Chapman Munro Clinkard Murdoch Cobbe Ngata Perelle O’P.rien Donald Parry [Fletcher Poison Forbes Ransom Fraser Itushworth Hawke Savage Healy Semple Hogan Smith H. E. Holland Stallwortliy Howard. Sullivan Jenkins Taverner Langstone AViteli Lye AVard McCombs AVilford McDonald AVilkinson AGAINST—2B— Kyle Bitchener Linklater Burnett Lysnar Campbell ATacAlillan Coates Massey Dickie Nash Field Pomaro Hall Samuel Hamilton Stewart Harris Sykes Henare AVaitc H. Holland AVilliams Hunter AVright Jones Young

RESULT RECEIVED IN SILENCE. HOUSE SITTING THIS AFTERNOON After the division, the result of which was received in silence, the mover briefly replied and it was agreed, that the address, as amended by Sir Joseph AVard be presented to His Excellency. The Speaker intimated that His Excellency was prepared to receive it at i 2.50. It was agreed, that on this (being done, the House would resume at 2.30 p.m„