THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20115, 1 July 1914, Page 8

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

The Hon. Ban; moved the Address-in-?feply. He claimed to represent his own 'personal opiiiions 3 and not the opinions of the Government which elected him to office. While acknowledging the prosperity of the Dominion, he held that there was always at this Reason of the year a recurring quantity of want and destitution, but no amendment was made to deal with tills question. Even if .palliatives were employed there was a tendenov to wait until a revolutionary movement forced the hands of the Crovemment. He deprecated assisted immigration except those whose relatives were well able to provide for them. He regretted that no attempt was to ibe made to deal -with casual labour. All that was. needed was to adopt_ a scheme suited to the particular requirements, of this country. It was good and desirable for- those who had land to acquire the freehold of their propolities, but he thought that before Ion" land would only be obtainable through lah.;l agents. The Government had very lit'Mo land left now available fov mcii without money, and in tune it would only be the man with capital who could procure land. Complaints lia.l reached" him lately of the system of ballotting for land. .He claimed that some channel .should T>e l«ft open for the man with small means to get upon tlio tend. It was tlie producer who was ■wanted on the land. Dealing with the cost of living, he contended that the increase in the wages of the workers Hvas not solely responsible for the increase in prices. In many cases the workers, though granted increases, were ■worse off. Governments and industrial organisation would have to turn their attention to the purchasing power ot wages. The extensiion !of •woirkjers homes scheme was most desiiiable, and would materially help to solve the problem of casual employment. If tlie workers bad suitable areas upon which to work, they could cultivate their holdings -when out of other employmentHe declared his intention of doing Ins utmost to defeat the Bible in Schools Bill. A referendum on a social question was one thing, and a referendum oa a moral auestion was another. He was pfeased to see that labour matters svere mentioned, but the Masters and Apprentices Act would not do much good. He spoke strongly in favour of Dominion awards, and advocated the adoption of a National Provident Fund to meet the needs of local bodies. In itliis way there iwas an opening for a general social insurance scheme. The principle of the Bill,was sound, and reflected credit upon those responsible for it.

. Tlie Hon. Hardy seconded the motion. He complimented the Hon. Barr upon the way in which he had moved the resolution. The Governor's Speech was clear and straightforward, but left no opening for criticism. The value of land in New Zealand was far too high, and if anything happened there would' be ■weeping and wailing. The land agent was largely responsible for these inflations in values. In Taranaki, where land .was at its highest price, there was not a farm which wias not f°i' sale. People should be enicoiii'aged to stay on the land. Dealing with the recent strike, he complimented the Government upon the way in -which it had dealt with the trouble. He wanted to know what the Government intended to do in regard to the Cost of Living Commission. He .■was firmly of opinion that the trouble was not the cost of living, but the plane of living. People were all trying to go one better than their neighbours. The cost of living would not- have gone up if the place of living had not risen. He complimented the Government iipon the •administration of the Defence Act. With proper discipline, tho young New Zealander -would be one .of the finest sol- i daers in. the world. He- approved of ; the establishment of the Agricultural Board. He did not approve of the denominationalism, and ho hoped "they ■would'keep the clergy out. The present system of instruction in the schools w.i.s not Godless. He quoted from school j volumes to show that frequent reference to Scriptural matters was made. He ■wiiis sure the Government was sincere in bringing down licensing proposals. The Hon. Rigg touched on the cost of living. He was opposed to the Council Bill, and the Bible in Schools referencltim. He pair .a farewell to the Council ere tlie expiry of his office. The Hon. Jenkmson traced 21 years' •connection with the Council. He was proud of the Liberal policy, which had '.uikido the j'jountry prosperous. He •thanked the Councillors for their kind-iiev-i during his term. The Hon. Jones also spoke. The Council adiourned.