POLITICAL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1932, Page 3

POLITICAL

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. opening SPEECHES. In tile House of Represenatives on Tuesday evening Mr J. N. Massey, (C.,: Franklin) moved the formal, Address-'. in-Roply motion. He paid a tribute., to • the manner in which Lord, anfi. La>dy i. Bledisloe had endeared themselves., to me people of the, Dominion, and added that the.breadth and depth l of the knowledge which,<hi§ ‘.Excellency had displayed in the agricultural life of the country had won especial admiration. The gut of the Waiiangi site was one which would be appreciated by Maori and pakeha alike, and. lie felt confident that She present and Later Governments would see that ..the monument associated with such an historic event would be properly protected for all time.

Mr Massey said that while there had been an improvement in the. outlook, of the Dominion it was evident that the people were not yet completely out of theif difficulties, but there was reason to hope that the improvement would continue. He referred to the Government’s efforts in the direction of assist 'ing the farming community, and expressed the view that a further careful investigation into the position regarding fertilisers would make it possible for farmers to receive supplies at cheaper rates. It; was necessary to go further than merely 'increase the Dominion’s production. Attention must be directed to improved marketing. Ti ey must improve the quality of their products. and at the same time submit an article that would be'.acceptable to the overseas markets. -He expressed the opinion that New Zealand had been .particularly ably represented at Ottawa and he believed that' 'the Dominion, in common with the rest of the Empire, would receive benefits of considerable magnitude in consequence of tlie Conference.

Mr Massey .went on to refer to the j development of Crown and private lands, and paid a tribute to the work of the Native Affairs Department in develop-1 ing Maori lands. So far as the Auck- 1 land province was concerned, it seemed that instead of the Pakeha giving .the lead to the Maori, the latter was giving the lead to the Pakeha. The Lands Department appeared to-be-lagging sadly behind. There had been considerable waste, and in this connection he desired to refer particularly- to unemployment relief.' Everyone knew that the unemployment > problem was acute, but it . should Lc" recognised that the money should be, spent along the right' lines. More valuable'Svork could be done in the outlying'areas than in the . metropolitan areas-. He' regretted that there had been a .departure in Auckland 1 Di-ovince from the 'Sound policy which i had been laid down some months ago, and emphasised ; 'ttie necessity for devoting the expenditure largely to .repro- > ductiye .work. ’’ " !> . hi':;

The motion seconded by Mr P. i. MoSkimining (Ind.'p ; . v Clutha), who said ■ he. had never . been very, , optimistic j : about-- the Ottawa . Conference, hut lie? th(Uigh...s<>mefjhing,n)ight, accrue from it. Some of the .manufacturers were up in arms about .ft,, but ..they, should wait : until .they,knew,what was going to be done. The mere fact that the Empire representatives bad met at Ottawa must do some good. .■ ]■ “I am afJjfificadw^feanannfacturer j myself,” ..Mr. McSkimvdug- said, “but I am not in favour '!pfSpiffs to make things too dear for the purchaser.” He was in favour of a "moderate tariff, and he considered tha manufacturers should be able to do better' than they were doing at present. What was wanted was a better undefstandirig between manufacturers and workers. ; Refemng to unemployment, Mr McSkintming said money was being found jbut in many cases it was wasted. Men j complained that they were not getting ' enough money, but in nany cases they j we v e getting more than the worlc was worth. Lots of work • offered to the men was certaihlv demoralising, ' but > u-lmn men refused to earn' the' inoney paid to them they were nothdring the position. Part of the trouble in the country was that the Government was expected to do everything. s Tf- indi-; viduals would .put their shoulders to the wheel something might, be dene. j Mr McSkimming commended the efforts to reduce expenditure. on education, but suggested that the Govern- ' ment should ' give further - considerationto the matter before dosing the Dunedin Training College. • He. criticised the payment-of very large individual i amounts in superannuation, and urged t the Government to make a saving in 'bis direction; There might also scope for economy hv further reduc-, .tions in some of the higher salaries. j The debate was adjourned on the motion o" the Leader of the Opposition \ and the House rose at 8.40 p.m.