PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WELCOME TO THE PREMIER, TO REVIEW HIS MISSION, By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. C. E. Statham (Dunedin Central) presented several petitions praying for the reprieve of the Maori, Te Kahn, condemned to death, and on his motion the petitions were referred direct to the Government for consideration. At this stage of the proceedings the Prime Minister (Mr. W. F. Massey) entered the Chamber, and was loudly applauded by members, all sides joining in the welcome. Replying to Mr. D. Jones (Kaiapoi), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the election of the Labor representative on the Arbitration Court would end on the 7th inst., and an appointment to the Court would be made as soon as possible after that date. Replying to Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei), the Hon. G. J. Anderson said the shearers’ award applied to the whole Dominion, except Marlborough and Nelson. Any union seeking to prevent men working under that award would be liable to a fine of £lOO. Replying to Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller), Mr. Massey said he proposed later to make a statement regarding the proceedings at the Imperial Conference, when he would be willing to discuss every detail if members so desired.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. THE DEBATE CONTINUED. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued by Mr. A. D. McLeod (Wairarapa), who congratulated the Government upon the manner in which they managed the difficult business of soldiers’ settlements. At the same time he thought the whole organisation was growing so large and complicated that it could no longer be controlled by officers who had not enjoyed special training for such an intricate business. He did not desire to pose as a pessimist, but he was convinced that unless the Government was able to find some solution for the problem of the transportation of our produce to the world’s markets, there would soon be wholesale bankruptcy amongst the primary producers of the Dominion. After commenting in unfavorable terms upon the attitude of official Labor towards the workers of the Dominion, he announced that he would vote against the no-confi-dence motion, because there was no other party in the House able to successfully take the place of the present Government on the Treasury benches.

Mr. G. T. Horn (Wakatipu) said that it had been suggested that there was ‘so little difference between the Government and Liberal parties that they should join forces, but personally he believed that the Liberal Party would do better by staying where it was and criticising the Government. He criticised the Government for neglecting to improve the tenure of South Island pastoral country, and complained of temporary renewals for large areas which should be cut up, thus affording greater protection against the rabbit danger. While appreciating the Government’s efforts to obtain cheap sugar for the people, he reminded the Government that many of the growers of small fruits were being severely handicapped by the fact that people could not make jam because sugar was so- dear. He made an appeal to the Government not to wait till November to give the people cheap sugar, but to devise some means of doing so at once. Mr. O. Hawken (Egmont) pleaded for gieater facilities for black-block settlers in the way of better roads, bridges and telephones and postal deliveries, although he admitted that the present Fostmaster-General had done more in these latter respects than any other Minister who ever held that office.

The heavy taxation, Mr. Hawken considerfed, was pressing unduly on industry. Practically every source of revenue was tapped during the war, and in view of the reduced returns possible from the primary industries as the result of the fall in values, it was essential that there should be a general reduction in expenditure. We must live within our means. The public service must share in any reduction, as it would be unfair to keep up the public service at its full strength at the expanse of the rest of the community. The debate was continued till 10.40 p.m., when the House rose till 3 p.m. to-morrow.