THE COUNTRY QUOTA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22521, 1 October 1938, Page 18

THE COUNTRY QUOTA

ATTITUDE OF

LABOUR

WARNING FROM MR

H. S. S. KYLE

“FARMERS SHOULD SEEK AN ASSURANCE?’ That the farmers of the Dominion should seek a clear definition of the Government’s attitude toward the country quota was suggested by Mr H. S. S. Kyle, National candidate for Riccarton, during an address at Tai Tapu last evening. Mr Kyle also attacked the alleged Socialistic trend of Labour. There were between 80 and 90 electors at his meeting, over which the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes presided. Mr Kyle was given an attentive hearing, without one hostile interjection. . Mr Kyle advised farmers of the Dominion to challenge Labour to make a definite statement on its attitude over the country quota. “You ought to get a definite assurance from the Prime Minister,” he said, “Make him say yes or no about the quota. I want to pin the Prime Minister down. He says, with the Hon. P. Fraser, that we should be made to give a definite statement about our attitude over wages. Well, we should make them give us a a definite statement whether, if they are returned, Labour will not abolish the country quota. The member for Egmont, Mr Wilkinson, asked the question on the floor of the House. The Prime Minister said that the Government had not considered it. Mr T. H. McCombs had been asked this week, and had not been able to give an assurance for the Government; Mr Semple had been asked at Tai Tapu, and had not been able to make a definite statement. Ninety per cent, of the farmers should march on Wellington, if necessary, and ask the Government if it is intended to abolish the country quota. But I know that they will not give a definite statement about it.”

Mr Kyle quoted from a report of the 1913 Unity Congress of the Labour Party, which, he said, laid the foundations of the present party in power. They were all there, he said, when referring to the names of prominent Labour people. Mr Sullivan was there, although he was saying that he was not a Socialist. “This report sets out a fighting platform (they were not content with a platform—but wanted a fighting one). This platform says among other things that they want the abolition of the country quota. That is No. 2 plank. And they have not changed. Land Tenure “The Prime Minister is on a goodwill tour of the South Island at the moment,” Mr Kyle said. “No doubt he is putting across the usual sob-stuff about having a job to do and doing it. But I doubt if he is telling the people the real truth about the effect of his Socialistic programme—about the plans in hand if Labour is returned to power. Recently we had the Prime Minister saying that the farmers had nothing to fear and that there would be no confiscation of land.” “Who would we put in their place?’” Mr Savage had declared. But when he was in the South Island, the Minister for Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, had said that no more titles were going to be issued for Crown lands. The Labour Government had already commandeered dairy produce, and had full power to take over the whole of the produce of the farmer. There was the same power of commandeer in the Transport Act and in the Industrial Efficiency Act. The Labour Government under existing legislation, could socialise New Zealand overnight, by one stroke of the pen. The members of the party declared that they were not revolutionary Socialists, Mr Kyle said, but he had a • pamphlet issued some years ago in which one now prominent member of the Labour Party declared that he was proud to be a revolutionary Socialist. .... Mr Kyle also emphasised his view that Labour was out ultimately to “Socialise the land.” He challenged his opponent, Mr T. H. Langford, to go to the next Easter conference of the Labour Party and declare that Labour was not out for the socialisation of the land. “I do not think he will/ Mr Kyle said. A voice: Of course he will. Other voices: No he won’t. “Champion Mud-Slinger”

“Every time Mr Semple can, he puts his hand in Lake Forsyth and gets a bit of mud to sling at me—and being a champion mud-slinger he makes the best of it,” Mr Kyle said when criticising the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, and the Minister for Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, for coming into his electorate to give addresses without informing him. It was the usual courtesy. But that courtesy had been ignored, Mr Kyle said. -Jow Mr Semple had started to send telegrams advising of his visits. But why had he not done it sooner? Mr Kyle, who had been criticised by Mr Semple for allegedly holding up the drainage scheme for Lake Forsyth, made a long statement in repudiation of that. He pointed out that he was advised by the highest authorities that no local legislation would be accepted in the short March session. He had been told later that Mr Semple proposed to put it through in the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill. Mr Kyle had received a petition from 22 people in the area objecting to the bill and he had immediately gone to the Prime Minister, who had declared that it would not go through and advised Mr Semple accordingly. Mr Semple had then blamed Mr Kyle for the flooding at Lake Forsyth. Later the Treasury had held up the bill, on technicalities involved in providing for the necessary loan. Mr Kyle also protested against the final decision, embodied in the bill, that the money should be raised without a poll. That had meant the sacrifice of a vital principle. However, the bill was through and Mr Kyle hoped the lake would soon be drained.

Mr Kyle was asked several questions and was given a hearty vote of thanks for his address, the vote being carried by acclamation.

ADDRESSES BY MR G. C WARREN

A meeting of about 50 electors in the Harewood Social Hall was addressed by Mr G. C. Warren, National candidate for Kaiapoi, on Thursday evening. Mr W. F. McArthur presided. After he had answered questions, Mr Warren was given a hearty vote of thanks. Later Mr Warren spoke in the Papanui Memorial Hall. Mr H. Kitson presided over an attendance of about 200. The candidate was subjected to interruptions from a section of th? audience, but received a good hearing. A vote of thanks, moved by Messrs M. E. Lyons and Billson, was i carried by acclamation.