Bright Spots in Address-in-Reply Debate

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 61, 15 March 1944, Page 5

Bright Spots in Address-in-Reply Debate

Mr. Thom’s Fierce Attack on Newspapers (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. March 14. Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate in the House to-day Mr. Munro (Dunedin North) said Opposition members had convicted themselves of not giving help to the war effort. They all claimed that there was a fall in primary production but said that if the Government would subsidise farmers, farmers would produce more. Was that not evidence that farmers were not producing all they could? Members of the Opposition were saying that until the farmers got justice the> would not produce more. They condemned the Government for shortage of manpower and fertilisers. One member had held up a piece of serpentine rock and said it was worthless muck and had suggested that Government Departments and Lhe Minister were participating in the “ramp” with three fertiliser companies. And other members of the Opposition had applauded. Mr. Munro said he hoped the Prime Minister would set up a commission to look into that. Manpower rrobiems Mr. Roy (Clutha) discussed the manpower problem. He said that grade A men on farms should serve in the forces like any others, but they should be replaced. The trouDle in New Zealand was that the Government had taken the view that it would be a short war. There was no excuse for that because the only waj there could possibly have been a short war after Dunkirk was through Britain going under. It was known that the Allies’ only hope was to prolong the war for years until they could get into a position to strike back. That had taken four years. Farming production in New Zealand had declined not because the farmers were not doing their best but because they were short of labour. He quoted actual cases of declining production due to sons being overseas and the usual labour being unavailable. On the question of rehabilitation Mr. Roy urged a distinct department, more decentralisation and more power to local committees. He saiu the machinery in use at present was too slow and unless it could be speeded up there would be a serious bottleneck when the majority of the men began to return Attack on Seed Merchants Mr. Meachen (Marlborough) said much had been heard of the financial difficulties of farmers, but little could he see of those difficulties to-day in the large farming district he represented. Most of the complaints came from a few who were stirred up by the forces opposed to the Government. The Government wanted to keep farmers in security and prevent them falling again into the control of those who a few years ago had the farmers completely in their grip. Mr. Meachen said in the seed-growing industry there was a big discrepancy between what the grower got and what the consumer paid. Such was tho greed of private enterprise in connection with the seed-growing industry that he understood Britain and Australia did not wish to take any more onion seed from New Zealand. Private enterprise had a bad effect on seed-grow-ing. For instance, merchants let contracts for gx*owing red beet and mangold seeds in paddocks within a hundred yards of each other. The result was cross pollenisation which was helping to ruin what had been a very good industry. New Zealand had enjoyed a good name overseas for seeds but now the industry had fallen into a position from which we would have to start all over again or give up seed exporting for all time. Mr. Meachen, speaking of housing, said the Opposition’s criticism of the State hous.ng policy was largely due to the refusal of the Government to throw State houses open to being bought and sold by private enterprise. In other fields there was a trail across the country of projects such as the Cobb Valley hydro-electric scheme which commenced by private enterprise but which the Government was obliged to take over and complete. Mr. Kidd (Waitaki) said Mr. Meachen had clouded the issue concerning seed me.rcliants by failing to point out that they bought undressed seed on which there was a large percentage of wastage before the dressing process was completed. He said members of the Government had got the slump set to music, indicating that their doom was sealed since any Government living in the past instead of tackling future problems was losing ground. After pointing out the serious effects of the shortage of coal last winter and the possibility of the position being worse during the coming winter. Mr. Kidd said he was satisfied that if any man were entitled to a decent wage it was the miner, but there was evidence that miners were going slow at some mines. He quoted figures to show how the earnings of miners had increased since the outbreak of war and said that the average earnings of hewers at the Liverpool mine were £568 In 1942-43. If their latest demands were granted their earnings for the same output would be £675. The average at the Strongman mine was £562 and the demands would increase that to £669. What was the miners’ motive in asking for another shilling a ton, he asked. They had already had a 30 per cent, increase since the outbreak although the Government claimed that the increase in the cost of living was only 13J per cent. There was urgent need for reform in the liquor trade, Mr. Kidd said. Labour members were fond of talking against vested interests and this was one the Government could tackle. Mr. Kidd said he was not speaking as a prohibitionist but as a man who realised there was an urgent need for j reform. There were cases where bars I were crowded after hours and the police were not doing their job. Was there a pact between tho Government and the police or the police and the trade, he asked. Hon. D. G. Sullivan rose to a point of order and asked if Mr. Kidd were right in suggesting there was a pact between the Government and the police and the trade. The Speaker asked Mr. Kidd if he stated there was a pact and ho replied he had not made the suggestion. He had merely asked a question. Mr. Speaker said if the question suggested there was a pact then it was not in order, but as the member gave the assurance that it was merely a question without implication he was in order, Maori War Effort Mr- Tirikateno (Southern Maori) said the criticism made by Mr. Kidd of the appointment of Colonel F. Baker as Director of Rehabilitation was unjust. Colonel Baker gained the position on his merit. He had proved himself a most capable battle leader and had occupied a position of trust. Since taking up his duties Colonel Baker himself had made appointments to his staff without reference to creed, politics or colour. Mr. Tirikatene appreciated the fact that a Maori had been considered acceptable for the appointment and expressed confidence that Colonel Baker would give satisfaction. Mr. Tirikatene devoted most of his speech to answering what he termed the blanket criticisms made by the Opposition of the Maori people—criticisms which had brought him telegrams and telephone calls of protest from various parts of the country. He was prepared to accept a fair thing. Ha admitted some of the Maoris had fallen by the wayside, but this did not justify the blanket criticisms of people whoso valour and integrity in the war effort had been acclaimed by the world. The record of the Maori Battalion and 10,000 Maoris who enlisted for service, including tho Navy and Air Force, did not bear out the statement of an Opposition member that the Maoris did not appreciate good treatment. Mr. Tirikatene said while there was no doubt that there were some Maoris in towns who could be rehabilitated on the land as the Opposition suggested it must be remembered that Maoris wanted the same rights as pakehas to prove their ability in medicine, teaching and other profes-