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Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1919, Page 3

for their own backs. There were three ways of coming to an understanding with Labor—by meeting peaeably, by litigation, and by fighting, and the mrmer was the best way of getting over the difficulties, which should be faced fairly and squarely until they were overcome, and he was with them in this. THE NEED OP THE TIMES.

The cry of the country was, How are we going to pay the enormous debt with which we are saddled? That could only be brought about by increased production, which required cheap money and more men. i .A voice: What's the use when the stores are full ?

Continuing, Mr. Buckeridge said that one of the finest assets New Zealand had was the character of its men for honesty and hard work, but these assets were no good to the bank. Other countries had taken this as good security to lend money and goods upon, and that was why 'they progressed. He did not want to go to our enemies, but they could learn something from Germany. Voices: We don't want Germany! Cut it out! Mr. Buckeridge, after the uproar had subsided, said that they would be very foolish if they did not learn from "their enemy, which had started Agricultural Bank's and lent £200,000,000 to the workers to enable them to go in farms,into businesses, and also set lip factories. Would this do any harm to the workers, he asked? Where Germany had made a success they should follow in her foot6tepa. France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, and America were doing the same thing. They must think Then Amejfica stepped in, because America was capturing a lot of Britain's trade. To-day New York was the centre, of the money market of the world, a position held by London a few years ago. and we must labor all we knew to get that back, or the beginning of the decadence of the British Empire would come. Adopting this up-to-date system of banking would help considerably in this direction. Three months ago, before he thought of

contesting the seat, he had written to Mr. Massey on the question, and he | could assure them that thin system j would ba given a trial. This the i speaker had done for the benefit of his I country, and whether in or out of Parliament would be prepared to continue to work for their benefit. Men were urgently required, and he favored a comprehensive system of emigration from the Old Country. Men were waiting to come here, and should ; !>e given every inducement to do so. \ In reply t.o further interruptions, Mr. ' Buckeridge said that if the interrupters could not keep quiet there was plenty of room outside. He pointed out that men wore being allowed to go from England lo South America, where they were becoming lost to the nation. HOW TO DEVELOP THE COUNTRY. With cheap money and men, cheap manures were required to give increased production- He paid a tribute to the

ehrewd business ability of Mr. Massey, i a farmor who knew their needs in j securing a share of the phosphates on Nauru Island sufficient to last for 200 vears. The country was crying out for lime which was lying handy, but because Taranaki lmd sent white men to Parliament- instead of men of the Tight color, it had tn cry out in vain for the necessary railway, than which none would pay better. The Commission showed that the Opunake.-Te Roti railway would pay 10 to 12 per cent. The first start of that railway liad been made by the Massey Government, nut. on the outbreak of war, winning the war was the first consideration, and men and money were not; available for a progressive public works policy. Then when' they got back to normal conditions one of the leaders deserted. But for this they would have lind that railway, and would then have had free agricultural lime conveyed to the district.

There was a tremendous wastage in our production, as would be seen by the difference in the pay-outs of cheese factor'".', one factory not quite so favorably situated as another to the port, paving out. 5d more per pound foutterfat, though worked under similar condition-. Riveis of waste could run away. The dairying industry did not know where it occurred. He had advoI cated standardising of balance-sheets, and some directors favored this. The business was worth £7,000,000 to New Zealand, and surely it was worth lookout into. He knew one concern that was setting up a scientific laboratory, which we did not possess in New Zealand to-day. That was not good business They should know where the leakages were that they, might be stopped. Scientific dairy colleges should be established, and one should be set j ii]i in Taranaki, which was the richest . dairying district in New Zealand. New j Zealand should also adopt a eomnrehen- ; stive system of advertising, which, he I considered, could he done cheaply and effectively. It would pay handsomely (o advertise, as thereby we created a demand for our produce. As the result? of lectures he had given in Londin, a demand sprung up for New Zealand butter and cheese that storekeepers who never stocked it. were compelled to do so. This recommendation made by him to the 1 Prime Miuister before he thought of ' sending, had been recommended by the Industries Commission, and would be given a, trial. ' MILITARY TRAINING.

Regarding military training, lie said Hint lie was teaching his boy to box so that lie could defend himself. What was good for the boy was good for the nation. They never knew where they were going to be attacked. Had they taken the advice of Lord Roberts they would never have had to figlit Germany, [because Germany would not have dared to attack.

They could not do too much for the | returned soldiers, hut, in doing so, they had to consider what the country could afford. (Voices: No!) It was better to provide a little, and give it, rather than promise a lot and not give it. He did not think tliey had given the soldiers too much, but they had given what t lie finances could afford. There were spme j soldiers, however, to whom it would be unwise to give too much. (Hoots, and cries: "Don't be silly!") | As a body the soldiers were right, but there were individual cases where it was not so. He knew this from practical experience, as secretary of the Repatriation Board. Most of the soldiers were becoming first-class men, but with some they must deal patiently and help them, as they had come back nerveshattered wrecks in defence of us. He had done his share, and was still trying to do so.

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY AND THE ! HARBOR. Touching on hydro-electric schemes, he pointed out that this would enable the starting of industries: that we had no power to (leal with at present. New Plymouth was doing well in. developing