M.P.'s Views On Lump Sum Issue

Chronicle (Levin), 5 June 1948, Page 4

M.P.'s Views On Lump Sum Issue

The form of the contract was a mere device to 'deprive the New Zealand producer, the farmers' leaders at the time being insufficiently astute to see through the device. This is the opinion Mr. J. J. Maher, M.P. for Otaki, holds of the lump sum payment contracts entered into with Britain by the New Zealand Government early in 1944, and now a bone of contention between the Federated Farmers and the Government. Speaking in Levin on Thursday night, Mr. Maher contended that the lump sum payments were made, not as stated in the contract — because England charged too much —but because New Zealand charged too little. "In' 1944 Britain was not wanting to sell anything to New Zealand," continued Mr. Maher. "New Zealand was wanting to buy manufactured goods from Britain. On the other liand Britain was most anxious to buy New Zealand's dairy produce. It was a seller's market both ways. There was no occa'sion for Britain to compensate New Zealand for charging world prices for manufactur^s. There was no occasion for Britain to compensate the New Zealand farmers for the difference between world prices and New Zealand prices for primary produce."