ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3819, 17 July 1928, Page 4

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

CONCLUSION OF DEBATE. LABOUR AMENDMENT DEFEATED. WELLINGTON, July 13. The debate on tho Address-in-Reply was resumed in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr J. R. Hamilton (Awarua), who'said that the House' and country, were indebted to Mr Macmillan, member for Tanranga, for the part lie played in securing a reduction in the prices of fertilisers Farmers were in a much better position than ever before since dairy companies were now able to get fertilisers at the same price as merchants and to let settlers have them at cost price. It was pleasant to know that tho economic position of the Dominion had greatly improved since the House met last year. The Opposition had been tonring the country denouncing the Government because of tire recent depression. But now the tide had turned they were not prepared to give the Government any credit. tie considered that if the Government was blamed for the depression, they should receive credit for the prosperity. The Opposition said that the Government should be turned out of office because they failed to settle the land problem. The fact was that much land in New Zealand had been bought at too high a price to make recent prices for produce payable. Now that the prices of produce had risen landowners.were in a bettor position and he believed that if they hedl on long enough values would adjust themselves and there would be no need to sell or lease their farms.

He did not believe people were leaving the land to the extent stated. His knowledge of the South Island led him to say that there were practically no vacant farms, and his fellow members for the North Island told him that much tire same conditions prevailed there. There was little or no Crown land available for settlement, so that a

“hold, comprehensive policy” of settlement of Crown lands was out of the question, nor would a revaluation of land serve any good purpose. The Opposition Whs very anxious about the farmer to-day because if was election year. But what had they done to assist farmers during flu period of depression ? They had gone to the Arbitration Court and asked for increases of wages in many branches of farm work. He agreid with the dairy control policy and lie always gave the Labour Party credit lor their support of that policy, which was essential to protect settlers against the aggression of the middlemen, who were making large profits out of New Zealand dairy produce. His opinion was that absence of complete dairy control was costing the farmers of New Zealand a penny per pound on tire whole of their dairy produce, so that farmers were not getting the. benefit of their fight with merchants on the question of free marketing.

VOTE ON AMENDMENT. Tin's speech closed the debate on tlie amendment moved by the'Loader ol the Opposition, and at 3.47 a division was taken when the amendment was defeated by 48 votes to 14, the Labour Party and Mr Atmore alone voting for the amendment. The debate on the main question was carried on by Mr T. Forsyth (Wellington East) who gave general approval to the Government policy. Mr R. McKeen (Wellirgton South) criticised what, he called “the sheer hypocrisy” of the National Party who throughout the country had denounced the Government, blit when they had the opportunity of proving the sincerily of their criticism they walked into the division lobby and voted for the Government. Wheat growing, land settlement, land aggregation, and unemployment were all discussed by the speaker, who arrived at conclusions detrimental to the Government. MINISTER OF EDUCATION. When the House resumed at 7.30 the debate- was continued by the Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, who said it was correct that the Government had raised the rate of interest on workers’ loans, but it was not true to say that this was done at the instigation of the hanks. The interest was raised because when they raised the T 0.000.000 loan for lending to settlers and others they had to pay 5$ per cent interest, and would it be sound business, to lend money out at a lower rate of interest than that which the Government had to pay for it? To increase the rate of interest was the only alternative and that fact was commonly known. But even at 5$ per cent. Government money was cheaper than any other money, so that it was absurd to say that the rise was in any way influenced by the banks. As a matter of fact, it was the Lending Board which told the Government that the interest rates runs he raised, not tlie banks, and the Government did it because it did ,not pay to lend at lower rates than they were paying.

The Government had been censured because they wore trying to keep people on the land. Surely that was to the credit of the Government, anil in tlrat they were extending a hand of friendly help to settlers who had been passing through an extreme crisis. The Labour Party had blamed the Government because there was a deficit in our railway returns. That, in fact, might be so. But such deficits were not peculiar to New Zealand, for Queensland the “while headed boy of the Labour Pai ty,” bail tire largest deficit of all countries of which they had returns. The fact was the railway deficits were due to economic causes. For such causes the Government should not he blamed Mr Holland: Tlie charge was that the deficits are not shown in the accounts in such a way that they could lie traced. Mr Coates: That’s imagination, not a charge. Continuing, Mr AY right commented on allegedly false statements issued by tlie United Party and declared that a party which had to resort to such methods would not get anywhere. The Opposition was fond of declaring that the Government had borrowed too much. But not one of them would say definitely that money should not lie spent on this work or timt. They liked lo talk in generalities, and instead of getting down to facts they preferred to say: “Look at this wicked Government, and how i,t has borrowed too much.” Tiro Government was not responsible for the unemployment problem was world-wide. That fact proved that no one in the world was able to solve the problem. Why then should the Government be blamed lor not doing what no one else has been able'to do?

The Government was not justified in playing award rates on relief works; otherwise inch would never seek work elsewhere, and the State would have large numbers of men permanently on its brands. Summing up, he likened the Opposition to Joseph’s coat of many colours, none of which harmonised, anil want of liarmony would prevent the opposing parties doing any harm to tlie Government at the next election.

Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston) said that the experience of the past year had shown that the Government managedthe affairs of the country with care and wisdom, and it was comforting to know-that there was no danger of New Zealand drifting into the deplorable condition of some of the States in Australia under Labour Governments. Mr F. Waite (Chitlin), the mover of the motion, briefly replied, and the motion that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency was adopted without a division, and the House rose at 9.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Tuesday.