M.P. Accepts Minister's Offer Of Tobacco

Chronicle (Levin), 21 September 1949, Page 7

M.P. Accepts Minister's Offer Of Tobacco

WELLINGTpN, Sept. 20. When the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, tonight offered to give 200 or SOOlbs. of tobaceo to any member of the House of Representatives who wanted it, he found a ready adfeeptor.in Mr. G. H, Mackley who promised to call at Mr. Nash's office tomorrow to accept the gift. The only catch is that the tobacco, according to Mr. Nash, is no good. ■ The offer arose during a discussion1 of Treasury estimates when Mr. Massey asked for information about the amount and nature of surplus wa-r assets still in store in New Zealand and awaiting disposal. Mr. Nash -said that although the War Assets Realisation (Board had been wound up, the work of clearing surplus stocks was being carried on by the Stores Control Board. He himself had wished for details of stocks still in store but had been told that a detailed eatalogue of them would fill hundreds of pages. Mr. Nash said he doubted if there was much of major value in wartime stores still in the Government's possession. His view was that if ' the stores could not be sold and were not useful to the Service Departments, they should be dumped as had been done in other countries but what would be the reaction of members of the House if that were done? Mr Nash added: "I can bring 20(1 or 3001bs. of tobacco to my office tomorrow if any member will take it away. Mr Mackley: What's the matter with it? Mr. Nash:. It's no good. I am just reliictlant to order its destruetion, that is all. The honourable member for Wairarapa can have it. Mr. Mackley: I will accept that offer. Mr. S. W. Smith: It can't be much good if the Minister doesn't want it. Mr. Nash: The honourable member will have to take it away, that is all. I don't want it left in my office. Opposition voice: Are there any acid drops ? Mr. Nash: No. Mr. Nash said he favoured disposing of surplus stores left over from war time, as rapidly as possible. There were still articles stored in. many parts of the country. Mr. Nash promised to make available to members any information that was obtainable on the extent and nature oi (he surplus stores still held in varioua parts of the- country.