MAIDEN SPEECH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 20 July 1929, Page 7

MAIDEN SPEECH

MR G. €. BLACK WELL RECEIVED BY THE HOUSE MANY SUBJECTS TRAVERSED POTENTIALITIES OF MOTUEKA ELECTORATE (By Telegraph) (From “The‘Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, 19th July. Mr G. C. Black (Motueka) made his maiden speech on the Address-in-Reply debate- in the House of Representatives to-day and created a good impression judging by the attentive hearing he received and the applause which greeted him at the close. lie referred to the interest which had been, shown by Their Excellencies, the Governor-General .and Lady Alice I'crgusson in the areas sheeted by the recent earthquake and he extended the thanks of the people of the West Coast to the Government and the people of New Zealand for the sympathy which had been shown to sufferers. Mr Black also thanked the Leader of the Opposition (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) and the leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. 10. Holland) for their co-operation. The visit of the Minister of Education to the afflicted areas had also done a great deal to restore the confidence of the pieople, who, he said, came of the right stock. Mr Black referred to the devastation which had taken place in the beauty spots of the district. The people in the areas were suffering hardships but the claims of settlers for assistance had been well met and lie was sure the Government would see to it that they were given an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves.

The earthquake, in his opinion, had pointed to certain weaknesses in their national life and one of those weaknesses was the difficulty of establishing communication with the isolated portions of the Dominion. It had been shown quite clearly that they would have to have landing places for aeroplanes in most districts, and he thought a base should he established at Golden Bay in the Takaka County.

RADIO IN ISOLATED DISTRICTS

The means of radio communication would also have .to be improved. Although 2YA station at Wellington had rendered excellent service during the disaster, lie thought that the sooner the regulations regarding amateur wireless operating were brought under review the better it would be for New Zealand. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) “That is the point.” Mr Black hoped that the Government would inquire into the question of importation of African jams which was seriously affecting the Motueka and Nelson fruitgrowers. In 1925 not one pound of African jam entered New Zealand but in 1928, 469,0911bs valued at £11,359 had come into the country, the amount for the first five months of the year being 633,288165. The position should he inquired into with a view of protecting New Zealand fruitgrowers and manuka! uvers.

Mr Black was glad that the best of relations subsisted between the Pakehas and ihe Maoris arid said life hoped that the Minister of Native Affairs would take an early opportunity of visiting Samoa.

Referring to conditions on soldier settlement lands Mr Black said he thought that noble service would bo rendered if conditions on those settlements were investigated. There were certain areas in his electorate which should be transferred to the State Forest Service, an opportunity being given to the soldier settlers concerned to make good elsewhere. Dealing with livdro-electric schemes Mr Black claimed that the true capital cost of some of the schemes had not been disclosed ,and he thought that more information should be given to the taxpayer. PUBLIC WORKS Mr Black failed to see how the gentleman holding the position of Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, could adequately do justice to the many positions lie held. Mr Black commended the proposal o-f the Prime Minister to ensure accurate estimates of the cost of public works being made before they were undertaken. The system by which the cost of works was under-estimated must be altered.

He urged that investigations should be made to guard against bureaucratic methods being adopted in connection with the Government of the country and pointed out that flagrant breaches had grown up in the presentation of departmental papers lo Parliament later than die time after the commencement of the session prescribed by the Act.

Mr IT. E. Holland : “By the wav, the Minister of Pensions committed the same oil epee this session.’’-. (Reform laughter). Mr Black: “But only eight days late, and under the Pensions Act it- was not the Minister but the departmental head who committed the offence.”

Speaking of closer settlement Air Black described Riwaka as the Kent of New Zealand. There were only 3000 acres of arable land there, tint there wore 200 settlers to llie square mile. The whole area had produced prolificallv last year and was an example to the vest of New Zealand. 'The Minister of Lands might well take stock of what had happened in Riwaka for it was an example of what coukl lie done and' was a district well adapted to closer settlement. He urged hotter treatment for sufferers from miners' phthisis and considered dial the mining industry should be encouraged. Tho majority of those inti-rested in mining were anything hut satisfied with the main or in which the Mines Department had been functioning.

MINING RESOURCES We mlist realise die extent of the undeveloped mining resources of the Dominion. The head of the Department should he n geologist with miiiiig experience. The Mines Act required to lie overhauled and lie suggested that a system of pri porting on seieut ilie lines should i-e instituted and that an investigation should be made of tho lower grade ore deposits of the Dominion with a view of seeii g if they could lie pmfitahlv worked. Miners should be given liberal prospecting rights, particularly in view of the coal importations from Australia. We must also face the problem of motor car and ell importations. It was time coal by-products were more closely investigated and that the petroliferous lands of the Dominion were scientifically exploited. In this connection lie referred to the possibilities of his own electorate and expressed the opinion that they should be exploited by use of science and hydro-electric power. Mineral wealth had played an important pad in the early life of New Zealand, and lie thought ’it could play an iin- 1 port ant part in our future prosperity.

Mr Black referred also to the gold mining, prospect on the West Coast and went on to stress the value of the na-

■jtiiual asset of seenie grandeur. The .’ whole tourist business must be veovganis. ‘led. The importance of the subject war- ■[ ranted a select committee of the House lof Representatives being set up to adeimatriv plan's the tourist advantages of i!i- Dominion on the markets of the 'world, lie thought (hat the publicity offices’of the Internal Affairs Department and of flu- Railways should he brought , under the Minister in Charge of Tourist | Resorts.