PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2756, 10 July 1924, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH.

GOVERNMENT DEFENDED. Wellington, July 8. When ihe House of Representatives resumed this evening the 'debate on otlie Address-in-Reply was taken np by the Prime Minister. In r< ply to criticism of the Advances Department, Mr W. Massey said that the Act ptU upon the Statute Book last year was the most liberal measure ever passed by Parliament. From August of last year, when the Act first came into operation, up to the end of Ihe i.nuncial year 8,000 persons had been assisted with loans, which was a most satisfactory record.

HOW LIBERAL LEADER FAILED. He congratulated the mover and the seconder of the address on the speeches delivered, but be was unable to extend a similar compliment to (be Opposition. Especially was this the ease with the leader’s speech, which was the same old oration which he had trotted out all over the country since last election. It was devoid of a single bright word or original idea and failed to rouse anv enthusiasm. The fault lay with Mr W,ilford himself for the people of the Dominion could not forget his public record from the days of the “soft pedal” onward. Mr "Massey proceeded to defend the Government aganst charges that the Government had bought land for soldiers from their own friends at excessively high prices. He offered to have the closest inquiry into any specific charge of this character which anyone chose to make. The fact was that most of the. land purchased was selected by soldiers t licmseivi s and bought by the Laud Purchase Department, under Mr Rilchie, and no member of the Government had ever interfered in any way with the transactions. Discussing ihe Taxation Commission he contended that though the Government had set; the commission up the Government wits not hound to accept its recommendations but all the same he hoped that the reporf supplied would be very helpful. lie charged Mr Wilford with misrepresenting the financial position of the Dominion in his public speeches, heaping upon the Government the whole blame for (he rapid increase in public expenditure, and :: ver reminding the public that \ye had just come through the Great War which had piled up heavy expenditure in all directions, including pensions for soldiers, nor did he tell the public that al the first favourable moment the Governmenl had reduced taxation amounting itt all to ft,0(13,500. He quoted from Australian papers appreciation of the Government’s financial administration as the only Government in the Pacific which had been able to redueo taxation. He hoped-before the session ended to be able lo propose stil] further reductions in. taxation. The Governmenl had been charged with “filching” funds from the Advances Department hut there was no such thing as “filching.” Temporary investments were made in other departments with the surplus funds from Ihe Advances Department, hut everything done was done under statutory authority and was perfcltly in order, but they had now reached the point when not a penny wys owing to" the Advances Department.

Mr Massey devoted considerable lime to the discussion of Mr Wilford *s meeling at Pukekolie and thou proceeded to. claim that the Government’s taxation policy was not discouraging the formation of comyianies as was proved by the figures. Tie admitted that the Government had increased the Customs duties, bnl only on luxuries; not a single penny lind been put on commodities used bv (be poorer classes. The’purchase of the Reparaoa estate near Rolorna for soldiers was defended, the Premier contending that no estate in Mew Zealand lin'd a better prospect; of becoming an unqualified success. The advances made by Ibe Government to the Muirs Gold Reefs Company was next explained and defended.

Discussing the alleged increase in railway freights and fares, be elucidated tlit* position of rates on timber and dairy produce, explaining why the rates had gone up, the principal reason being the working cost arising from the bonuses awarded to the men during the war. He. had hoped soon to be able to reduce railway fares and freights because lie realised that they were 100 high hut only the other evening the Opposition had voted to increase the overhead charges, and that was just (hi- sort of thing that would prevent; reductions he and the Minister of Railways hoped to bring ai.Ollt.

In conclusion be warned the Opposition againsjr the proclivity of maligning I heir opponents- in the course of their political activities. ' SPEECH BY MR. HOLLAND. Mr Holland said it was a pity the House could not have agreed upon coming to an immediate vote on Mr Wilford’s amendment because every one knew exactly what the result, would be. The vote on the Imprest Supply Bill had settled that; the Government majority would be the eternal three. Coming to the Liberal amendment, be said it merely consisted of so many planks of the Labour Party’s and the latter which was always consistent, would vote for it. Yet there were one or two notable omissions from the amendment. Where was the reference to electoral reform ? There was no reference to the production of coal, but the time must come when it . would be determined that all the coal used in New Zealand must be produced in New Zealand. The speaker proceed-

eu to deal with the land question. He said that important as the moratorium question was, it was only one phase of the land question. Boforc the Government’s proposals came beforp the House members should he supplied with details of the mortgages owing in New Zealand and the rates of interest being paid. The speaker proceeded to argue that, the freehold tenure was not, an itnmixed blessing ns comparatively few of (be farmers were tbe real owners of (lie properties they occupied, fully three-quarters of the capital value being under mortga-

The debate was adjourned on the and ion of Mr Edie, and Ihe House rose at 10.30 p.m. The debate was continued last night by Messrs Edie, Girling and the iron. A. T. Ngatn. QUESTIONS AND REPLIES. The Minister of Railways informed Mr Forbes (Hnrunui) this week that the cost of the British Railway Commission shortly coming from New South Wales should not exceed .CO,OOO.

The Prime Minister informed Mr Thomson (Wallace) that in all probability a Bill would be brought down tin’s session in connection with the Counties raising loans for work on main highways. Mr Sullivan (Avon) asked the Minister of Railways whether as a result of Ihe introduction of the 48hour week, it was proposed to reduce the staff at thp Addington workshops by 100 men? The Minister replied that until the Arbitration Court tribunal had made the recommendations regarding the seventy-two claims now before it. the Government was unable f (l say what would he done in regard to hours and wages, or anything ~|.so. It had already been stated that if the 48-hour week was established there would be a surplus of approximately 1,200 men. It was not Ibe intention of the Government to dispense with those men, who would tic absorbed in about twelve mouths time, by reason of the flow of labour into and out of the Department. The rumour was unfounded, ami lie would immediately take steps to see how it started and to see that no men were dismissed. Mr Hainan (Invercargill) asked Ihe Prime Minister what was the position in relation to the esfablishhj ~f a scheme of wireless cotn.aiiiiaa Imu within the Ejnpire ? . My M.:'Sev replied that the New Zealand Government was awaiting the .leebinn of the British Governui. Thor, .was a tremendous difference of opinion as to whether I lie Marconi system should he adopird, or whetli.-r the Government should ..<) on its own. The head of the I * and T. Department while in Enri pc, would obtain all information possible respecting the British Government's intentions. ••There are mfluenees apparently at work.” said Mr Massey, “to prevent any definite decision being arrived at.”