ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 7 October 1933, Page 2

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

END OF DEBATE

PREMIER TROUNCES JEREMIADS

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr S. G. Smith complained of party differences in the House, adding; “We should all be together as a national Government in the present difficult times.”

Replying to the statement by Mrs McCombs, that so far as the Government was concerned, the hoy seemed to cease to exist the day he reached the age of sixteen, Mr Smith said that, although the Unemployment Act made no specific provision for the relief of unemployed youths, that fact had not deterred the board from assisting in several ways. Over 2000 youths from 18 to 20 years of age had been granted assistance by way of subsidy under the board’s 4a scheme, and under another scheme (No. 7) a limited number of boys between 16 and 20 years of age had been assisted on farms where they received a general training in farm methods. As a result of the activities of the boys’ unemployment committees in the main centres, a largo number of boys had been placed in both town and country positions. HIGH EXCHANGE TO REMAIN. Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said he had no complaint to make about the time taken up by the Address-in-Reply debate, as he considered it a good thing to allow members to commence the session with a general discussion of the country’s problems. He felt, however, that the Government had emerged from the debate with the honours and that all the arguments advanced from the Labour benches had been satisfactorily answered. Mr Forbes said the Government had pursued its policy regardless of considerations of popularity.

The Premier announced definitely that the high exchange rate would not come off.

A Labour member; That means it will be off within a month.

Mr Forbes: I say definitely that it is not coming off. The Premier added that tlie interjection was typical of the statements made by members of the ■ Opposition that tended to create a feeling of unrest and uncertainty as far as trade was concerned. They were statements that should not be made. He accused Opposition members of attempting to discredit and minimise the signs of recovery and deprecated such an attitude. They should, instead j make a point of drawing attention to signs of improvement when they occurred.

IMPROVED CONDITIONS. Mr Forbes went on to refer to Mr Neville Chamberlain’s statement regarding the improved financial and commercial conditions in Britain and to the reports of improvement in Australia, adding that while he was-attending the World Conference he had oUserved among the delegates a general leeiing that an amelioration of conditions was being experienced. The tact that tlie New Zealand loan had been oversubscribed should be a matter for gratification to the Dominion, Mr Forbes continued. It showed that there was a genuine belief in tlie Old Country that New Zealand was overcoming her difficulties and was being well administered. Referring to tlie taxation reductions in Australia, Mr Forbes said it liad been suggested that New Zealand should follow suit. The Government fully recognised that the increased taxation had created an additional burden in tlie Dominion, and nothing would please the Government more than to be able to reduce it. He pointed out, however, that taxation had not been imposed in New Zealand to the extent that had been the case in Australia. New Zealand would have to wait until she received the benefits of the improvements that were taking place before a reduction would be possible. BUSINESS OF THE SESSION. Referring to the business of the session, Mr Forbes said the Reserve Bank Bill would be introduced about tlie end of next week. The Government did not desire to keep the members in Wellington any longer than necessary, and with the support of the Opposition members it should be possible to complete the business in a comparatively short time. The Leader of the Opposition: If you take the right line of action you will get our support in everytliing. Mr Forbes: We always take tlie right line. Mr H. G. R. Mason accused tlie Prime Minister of inconsistency on the high exchange issue, and quoted from a number of early statements Mr Forbes liad niado on tlie subject. Mr H. Holland (Christchurch North) then briefly replied to the debate and the formal Address-in-Reply motion was adopted. Tlie House adjourned at 12.25 till 2.30 this afternoon.

NEW BILLS

AMENDMENT OF MARRIAGE LAW.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. The House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 p.m. The Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Amendment Bill (Hon. J. A. Young), the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum Bill (Mr \oung) and the Arbitration Clauses (Proto.col) and Arbitration (Foreign Awards) Bill (Rt. Hon. G. IV. Forbes) were read the second time.

The Law of Libel Amendment Bill (Hon. J. G. Cobbe), the Trustee Amendment Bill (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill (Mr Cobbe) were read the second time pro forma and referred to tlie Statutes Revision Committee. Tlie Judicature Amendment Bill was read the second time.

In moving the second reading of the Marriage Amendment Bill Mr Cobbe said it had been introduced at the instigation of the National Council of Women of New Zealand. It seemed to be a measure that appealed to everyone who took an interest in the welfare of young people. He pointed out that under the present law the marriage age was 14 for boys and 12 for girls, and tlie Bill proposed to raise the age to 16 for both sexes. There had been quite a number of marriages in New Zealand of girls of 14 or 15.

Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Opposition); Do any of the churches object to the Bill? Mr Cobbe: No.

Continuing, the Minister said a similar raising of the marriage age had been passed into law in England. The Bill also gave power to women ministers of religion to perform the marriage ceremony. Mrs E. R. McCombs congratulated tire Government on the introduction of the measure. She said it represented a very distinct step forward in the reform of the Dominion’s social laws.

The Bill was read the second time. The House rose at 5.5 till 2.30 on Tuesday afternoon..

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND

REPORT ON YEAR’S OPERATIONS

WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. The total income of the National Provident Fund for the year ended December 31, 1932, was £438,978, according to the annual report tabled in the House of Representatives. The income included £219,252 paid by contributors, who number 26,140, and £173,816 interest. The benefits paid out during the year amounted to £233,045, including maternity benefits of £41,014. The rate of interest earned was £5 5s 6d, compared witlr £5 13s Id for the previous year.

WORLD CONFERENCE

PREMIER’S REPORT

AVELLINGTON, Oct. 6

The work of the World Monetary and Economic Conference was reviewed in a report presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister. Mr Forbes and the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Hon. R. Masters) were New Zealand’s representatives at the Conference. The deliberations of the Conference are set out in detail. Most of the information contained in the report has already been published. The comments by Mr Forbes on the achievements of the Conference are on the lines of his remarks when speaking at the reception accorded him in the Wellington Town Hall on his return from London. “It is true that the Conference achieved little of what was expected of it, yet during the session of the Conference a great deal of work was done,” said Mr Forbes. “The field to be covered by the Conference proved so vast, the problems so complex, and the situation with which the Conference had to deal was so unstable, that it was not practicable to achieve immediate and definite results.”

The House will be given an opportunity on Tuesday to discuss the report.

WHEAT BOARD

STATEMENT ON OPERATIONS

WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. An announcement that he proposed to make a statement shortly regarding the operations of the Wheat Purchase Board, which had been very strongly criticised during the Address-in-Reply debate, was made by the Prime Minister at the end of the debate. Mr Forbes said that the board was designed to be of direct benefit to the farmers. No doubt in carrying out this policy it had to take actions which gave rise to some criticism, but he could assure the House that this was definitely its policy.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

WORK FOR NEXT WEEK

WELLINGTON, Oct, 7. When the House of Representatives resumes on Tuesday members will be invited to discuss the report on the World Monetary and Economic Conference which the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, tabled yesterday. Mr Forbes said last evening that there were several more Government Bills ready for introduction. The Municipal Corporations Bill was to be reintroduced, and he understood that the newly-framed Companies Bill was practically ready. The annual Land and Income Taxing Bill would be brought before the House -on Tuesday, and it would have to be passed by both Houses and receive the Royal assent by Wednesday night. Other proposed legislation will probably be considered by Cabinet dining the week-end.