PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph.—press Association.

_ Wellington, Last Night. J-ne. Legislative Council met at 230 p/m.

-The Hon. J. MacGregor introduced the Junes Act Amendment BUI, which provides for a majority verdict in specified cases. The Bill was road a first time. Hie Addresa-in-Reply debate was continued by the Hon. G. J. Garland, who spoke on education, urging the need tor evolving a grading sc ] leme wllich would give, efficiency its due. With regard to finance the country was buoyant enough to stand a progressive public works policy. This closed the debate, and the Address was carried. The Council rose at 3.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

PRICES TRIBUNALS CRITICISED.

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

Replying to Sir R. H. Rhodes, Mr. ifcssey said that if Mr. Ellis, who recently resigned from the Christcliurch I rices Tribunal, had any reason to believe these tribunals were merely camou«age, it was desirable lie should give his information to the puunc

THE RAILWAYS DISPUTE.

Replying to Mr. Kellett, the Premier said the reports of three committees who enquired into the railway employees' wages had been referred to a board, which was at present at work upon them, and he hoped to have the report of that board at no distant date.

SHIPMENT OF POTATOES,

The Premier made a statement to the effect that he had communicated with the general manager of the Union Company regarding shipping facilities for the transport of potatoes from the South Island to northern ports, and the company had assured him that they were doing their best in this connection, and he hoped the improvement promised would have a beneficial effect, both for the producers in the Soutu and the consumers in the North.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by Mr. Sullivan (LaborAvon), who complained of the paucity of ideas in the Governor's Speech. The dominant note in the Speech was that things could not be done, but what was wanted was a Government who could do things, rather thau one like the present, who repeatedly confessed tilings could not be done. A broad, farseeing policy of construction was what the people were looking for. He did not deny that the,workers of New Zeale»d should do a fair day's work, but he was not going to agree that they' should work like horses.

Mr. P, Fraser: Or like donkeys. Regarding the cost of living, Mr. Sullivan declared Ministers did not seem to realise the seriousness of the position. He challenged Ministers to get aside part of their salaries, and try to live jon the average wage of the average Workers. Then they might be able' to'git some clear idea of the stressful position in wliich thousands of our p.eopte were placed by the ever-increas-ing prices.. .Ho blamed the Government for its failure to convene a conference between Labor and the'-employers, and he said he believed it waa because the Reform and Liberal patties did not want the J»abor organisation to receive any credit for a reconstruction proposal. Colonel Mitchell (Intf '-pendent—Wellington South) opened by remarking that while he was entirely opposed in principle to the Labor Party, he was with them in regard to some of their social aims. He felt, however, that if the Labor Party came into office and went forward on the lines it now advocated, it would create far greater evils for the working people than were created. SMALL PROFIT IN WOOLLENS. Mr. Harris (Government—Waitemata) speaking of the trip to the Pacific Islands, censured members of the Labor Party who at Fiji visited Indian strikers when requested not to abuse the hospitality of the Fijian Government, whose guests they were. He regretted the Government had recently permitted certain Indian agitators to land in New Zealand, where we had sufficient agitators. He defended the Woollen mills against the charge of profiteering, as the cost of production had increased a hundred per cent., and most of the mills were working on a profit of not more than 10 per cent. Defending the repatriation scheme of the Government, he declared it to be second to none in the world. He however, found fault with the Government's failure to reduce the cost of living, and suggested taking the duty off timber and cement to enable the people to get houses. We should also have' an active immigration policy, the Dominioji being 40,000 short of its requisite manhood. Mr. Savage (Labor—Auckland West) declared that we must have proportional representation, and the Labor Party was willing to help the Government to pass such a measure. Mr. Massey: "Proportional representation would not give any party a majority." Mr. Savage said he was not concerned with a Party majority; proportional representation they were entitled to, and that Was all they were concerned about. Proceeding, he blamed the Government for giving the people cheap butter at the expense of the people by helping the farmers out of the Consolidated Fund, which was simply taking money out of one pocket and putting it into another, and then pretending "we would all be the richer for it. The debate wag continued by Messrs. Potter (Mt. Roskiil) and Veitch (Wanganui), and the House adjourned at 11,30 p.m.