PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

MR HOLLAND AND UNEMPLOYED MR COATES’ VIGOROUS DEFENCE (Jby 'l'eiegrupn —ter frets AstvCuttiunj WELLINGTON, March 4. THE COUNCIL. In the' Legislative Council yesterday, tile Address-in-Reply Debate was adjourned after two additional speeches had been made. THE HOUSE. In the. House of Representatives, tile Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, moved a formal no-confid-ence motion. He alleged that conditions of slavery prevailed in the unemployment camps. The men' were provided with food, the estimated"cost of which was at the most twelve shillings per week per man, whose earnings averaged from os to 8s per week, so that the actual return for their work was between 17s and 20s per week.

He was satisfied that it was only the driving force of relentless economic circumstances which made it possible to keep the men under these conditions. Mr Coates said that one inferred from the remarks of Mr Holland that New Zealand was one huge slave camp, jt was nothing of the kind. Single men were being provided with food and shelter in the camps, and they were being given a chance to earn up to Ss to IDs a week, This was not a wage, and it was not intended to he. It was sustenance, and nothing more. Never, the less, young men throughout the country would be well advised to accept work in camps if nothing else were offering.

A further amendment was moved by Mr C. A. Wilkinson find., Egmont), to tbe effect that the Government did not possess the confidence of the House, because of its failure to submit proposals to reduce interest rates of both public and private debts, and to reduce bank overdraft- rates and rents, and further because it had not taken steps to provide for a full, open investigation. into hanking currency an c ] credit system operating in the Dominion.

Mr H. M. Rusliworth (Country Party, Bay of Islands), seconded the amendment, which was defeated by 49 votes to 26. It was supported by Labour members, Messrs Rushworth, Wilkinson, Black and H. Atmore (Independents).

The debate on Mr Holland’s amendment was continued, and was adjourned, when-the House rose at 10.23 p.m.

MR INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON, March 4. Speaking in the Address^'U-Reply debate in the House "of-Represen tatiC MV J. O’Brien (Lab. Westland) complained that the Government had fail” ed to give such assistance to the timber Industry as would enable hundreds of men to regain employment, - He emphasised the effect of the exchange rate, insisting that if .the Australian and New Zealand rate were at par it would be almost sufficient to rehabilitate the industry. REPORT BY ECONOMISTS. In the House of Representatives this morning, the- Prime Minister 'presented the report of the Economic Committee. The Gaining Amedment Bill fMr H. T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch;, was read the first time. J lie Address-in-Reply debate was resumed by Mr O’Brien (Lab.. Westland).