EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1015, 4 July 1930, Page 15

EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE CONTINUED

MANY POINTS DISCUSSED Press Association AN" ELLING TON, Thursday. Tho Address-in-lleply debate was ; continued in the House of IlcpresenTho Leader of the Opposition, the Jit. lion. J. G. Coates, moved a vote of no-confidence in the Government and the amendment was seconded by Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform —Palmerston). The Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister ; of Lands, immediately replied on be- ' halt' ol' the Government. { Air. AI. J. Savage (Labour —Auck- • land "West) said ho did not think any- • one would disagree with the import- j ance of agricultural industries, but j there were other industries in New Z©a- j land that should also be fostered. The ! time had come for a forward policy of development of manufacturing industries, but ho did not see much prospect of such a step in the Prime Minister’s utterances. Ho criticised the dismissal of men in the Post and Telegraph and Railway Departments. With reference to land settlement, lie expressed regret that the Government was not employing up-to-date methods, such as the use of tractors, in making land ready for settlement. Tho standard wage of workers should be strengthened, not weakened. Production should be increased and at the same time there should be a more ev» n distribution of produce. .Mr. .11. M. ltushworth (Country— Bay of Islands) stated that much had been hoard of a loss of ‘2 3,000,000 at : Arapuni, but due regard was not being paid to the drop’of over .-€8.000,000 in the value of agricultural produce. UNEMPLOYMENT WORSE .Mr. (’. 11. Chapman (Labour—Wellington North) said the situation regarding employment generally was i worse than when the United Party had taken office. He admitted that he was in favour of private enterprise where private enterprise could achieve better results than public organisations, but as private enterprise had failed it was now time for the Government to step in. Members were laced with the choice between the United Party and the Reform Party, and of these two, he preferred the United Party,- bad as it was, to Reform, which was infinitely worse. Mr. \Y. D. Lysnar (Reform—Gisborne) said he regretted that Air. Coates had moved the -amendment, as the present was not an opportune moment and lie would not support it. This was not a time for party politics. Parties should co-operate for the good f of the Dominion in times of stress. < The country was not looking for ■ another election, but was expecting ‘ members of Parliament to pull together j to solve the difficulties. Air. D. G. Sullivan (Labour—Avon) J asserted that workers had suffered • from the changed economic conditions j during tho war and wero now being called on once more to pay for the gen- ! C:ra 1 depression. If Workers shared in , duo and proper proportion when there! were good times, it would perhaps bo fair to ask them to carry such a share | of depression, hut that was not so. j Mr. G. (’. Munns (United —Rosltill) ' referred to the suggestion by Mr. ! Coates that tho railways should inplaced under# a director. Tie described j tho present manager as the most ox- j nian in the country and <2e - > dared he had been appointed by the 1 Reform Government. The present Administration had not purchased ' Arapuni. It had not purchased Garrett locomotives, it bad not bought the steamer Maui Pomare, yet it had to bear tho burden of these mistakes by tho Reform Party. Mr. Munns urged that a large capitation grant should bo provided for primary schools and that should be taken to place school books on a more reasonable price basis. Ho also advocated a greater censorship of moving picture posters. r l he debate was adjourned on the motion of Air. ,T. A. Young (Reform—Hamilton) and the House rose at 10.30 p.m. until 3 0.30 a.m. tomorrow.