INDEPENDENT POSITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1920, Page 5

INDEPENDENT POSITION.

MR. SMITH EXPLAINS HIS .VIEWS. THE HOUSING PROBLEM. HELP FOR TARANAKI INDUSTRIES. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. Speaking in the House to-day, Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) said he wapted to make clear his position on certain motions that had been before the, House. At the last general election he stood as an Independent because he believed that the best 'elements of all parties should get together in Parliament to deal with great problems. In his own short experience of Parliament he had seen. abuses of the old party machine methods. He had told his electors that he was between the Liberal and Reform Parties. , He preferred the Liberal Party, ♦ut his desire was to assist rather than hamper the Government in any measures for the benefit of the country, and he would defy anybody to embarrass the Priije, Minister if he brought down measures which would be to the advantage of the country. The official Labor Party, as at present constituted, he could not join, because this Party had been captured by men who beHeved industrial peace could be secured only by international revolutionary socialism. This he did not believe. He. believed the proper way, to the advantage of the working class of this country, was to take the present industrial and social machinery as it was, and to'get control of it if possible. He had voted for Mr. Holland's motion because its terms were a proper protest against the action of the Government in regard to housing. He did not care to support the motion of the Leader of the Opposition, but he did support Mr. Statham's motion, because he believed in the principles of it. He spoke of the housing conditions in New Plymouth, giving details of the deplorable conditions under which .many people were compelled to live. Not ft single house was erected in New Plymouth under the Housing Act of last year. The contractor was ready to do the work, but he was unable to get bondsmen. It was absurd for the Government to ask contractor# to get bondsmen in these times. The greatest need was for- more cement, of which supplies ljad been very inadequate for New Plymouth. His own belief was that the Government should take over the cement industry of this country. He could find no justification for the continued rises in the price of cement, and advantage was being taken of the recurring shortage to push up the price. He advised the Government to arrange importations of, say, 2000 tons. He detailed what lodtl "bodies were doing in New Plymouth in regard to housing, pointing out. that they had done their utmost. Referring to, the oil industry in his district, he believed, in view of the prospects, that the Government would be well advised to. give more assistance to the industry. He also urged the Frime Minister to do something more for the ironsand industry of Taranaki. All tlint liad been" done in the past year had been to send away twenty tons of sand for experimental purposes. He was anxiously awaiting the policy declarations of the Government, probably to be made in a few days, and he sincerely hoped the Government would bring down really progressive proposals.