ACCEPT ALL HELP

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 7

ACCEPT ALL HELP

DUTY OF GOVERNMENT START OF DEBATE WOMEN AND WAR EFFORT (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Address-in-Reply debate began in the House of Representatives tonight, when the galleries were only partly filled. The House sat for only a few minutes this afternoon to transact formal business and when to-night’s sitting began the first speaker was Mr L. G. Lowry (Government— Otaki), who moved the Address-in-Reply. Both he and the seconder, Mr T. E. Tirikatene (Government — Southern Maori) were wearing the full evening dress which custom decrees for the occasion.

A wide field was covered by both speakers. Each was granted an extension and spoke for a little over an hour. The House rose at 9.45 o’clock until 7.30 to-morrow night, when the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, will speak. It is thought likely that among other subjects members of the Opposition will pay some attention during the debate to the question of censorship and to the administration of the Government’s Publicity Department. An appeal to the Government to accept all the assistance offering to further the war effort was made by Mr Lowry in opening the Address-in Reply debate. People are Willing “I am satisfied in my own mind that hundreds of people in this country are waiting and anxious to do something and there are men in this House anxious and willing to do something,” Mr Lowry said. “I have a small idea of the burden carried by the Government of the country, and I say without fear of equivocation that if they find this burden too great it is their own responsibility, unless they are prepared to avail themselves of the offerings of men of their own calling—or of any other calling, for that matter. Discussing women’s part in, the war effort, Mr Lowry said women did a great work in the last war at the base camps in England and France. He thought the time would come quickly when women would have to be taken for that type of work to release men lor other duties. After congratulating the farmers on their response to the call for increased production, Mr Lowry said difficulties were confronting a certain section in getting their products away. If those producers were called upon to make sacrifices in the name of the country, it would be the Government’s duty to relieve them of any financial embarrassment. Planning For The Future Speaking of planning for the future Mr Lowry said it was apparent the world over that Governments must take a predominant part in all questions affecting the lives of the people. Only conscious planning for social needs would accomplish this, and the best possible agent was the State. State assistance to primary producers was defended by Mr Tirikatene, in seconding the Address-in-Reply motion. Mr Tirikatene thanked the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, for the honour conferred on the Maori race in asking him to second the motion. He recalled that the last occasion on which a similar honour had been done was in 1888, when the Address-in-Reply motion had been seconded by Sir James Carroll, who was then a private member. Entitled to Assistance “The farmer is surrounded by problems and difficulties which the majority of citizens do not appreciate,” said Mr Tirikatene. "Subsidies have been granted the farmer, and rightly so, and everything possible has been done by the Government to assist him through his difficulties. The farmer is entitled to all the assistance he receives. He is the producer of raw materials and without that assistance the industrial world would be brought to a standstill.” Speaking of the part being played by the Maoris in tne war, Mr Tirikatene said they were marching shoulder to shoulder with their pakeha comrades. A total of 4168 men had enlisted and had accepted the challenge made by a ruthless enemy.

LIVING BONUS

SOLDIERS’ DEPENDANTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Tuesday An assurance that dependants of soldiers overseas would get the 5 per cent cost of living bonus as given by the Arbitration Court to industrial workers was sought from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, m a question of which Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition—Riccarton) gave notice in the House today. Mr Kyle said in a note that soldiers’ dependants were in a worse position, owing to the rise in the cost of living, than any other section of the community. “ The y do not pay any taxes,” said Mr C. A. Barrell (Government— Hamilton).