IMPERIAL PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 10

IMPERIAL PURCHASE

MINISTER REPLIES TO CRITICISM A STATEMENT CONTRADICTED .By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.' Palmerston North, June 19.' Speaking at the A. and P. smoke cor. cert to-night, the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald said that ho did not object to fair criticism, but he objected to misstatements. In this connection he unversed some of tho remarks mitdo at the annual meeting of the National Dairy Association concerning the question of the commandeer of dairy produce. Tlr. Government had been criticised for commandeering the produce of the country for the Imperial authorities. As a matter of fact, there never had heen n real commandeer, tho sale of produce to tho Imperial Government being agreed to by tho farmers themselves' in conference with the _ Government. One sneaker at the meeting referred to hail' made a statement that Britain was treatins New Zealand like an alien: in fact that ■ Britain had been treating aliens better in regai'd to the purchase of produce than New Zealand. He (the Minister) thought on mature consideration that his friend, the speaker, who was from bis own electorate, had made a very grave mistake in makinr such 'i statement. Perhaps everybody did not know thnt be, as Minister, was accused of many things during the last two vears in connection with produce and butter that he had nothing to do with. He had happened to be present .at the conference between the nroduccrs and the Bntter Committee, and did his friend know thnt the Butter Committee had asked the Prime- Minister to have the Imperial purchase contract made continuous for the duration of the war, and for at least one year after? The agreement suggested was cabled home to tho Imperial Government, and finnllv agreed to. The Butter Committee had agreed to the price of 181s., and to an equalisation scheme. It. might have been forced on the committee, but it certainly was an agreement come to bv the committee, ■which eommilteo asked for a continuance of the said agreement. 'The eame action was taken by tho wooigrowprs and mont-frrowers.

Passing on, the Minister said it had. been stated at the Dairy Association's Conference bv the "resident. Mr. A. Mo rton, that he (the Minister) liad suggested that there was going to bo. Government control of produce for somo years to come. "I never," remarked the Minis, ter, "made any such statement. My friend from Opotiki said he viewed this statement of mine with alarm. Well, if he knew the position lie would view it the otber way." The Minister explained that he had simply referred to a proposal to devise some schemo to help the Imperial Government to protect our produce when it arrived overseas. Such a scheme was necessary because there were men who were troing to make things very difficult for New Zealand producers at tho other end. He reiterated that ho had not foreshadowed an extension of Imperial purchase, but rather the provision of some measure of protection at the other end for our producers when the Imperial Government repuisition was at an end. Personally he desired to see the producer.* freed from any restrictions. Restrictions wore unpleasant to the Government aB well as to the producers, as they did not act as an incentive to increased production. He for one would bo glad to seo tho restrictions at nn end.

At tliis stage the Hon. ,T. B. .Gow, who was the constituent.whose statement the Minister had contradicted, and who was present at the fathering, endeavoured to make a personal explanation. Mr. Gow said that wiiat he had stated was that New Zealand producers did -not receive the food Controller's price paid at Home, "Did you," ho asked the Minister, "say that, or not?"

The Minister replied in the affirmative, and asked, Mr. Gow if he had also accused the Government of a, huckstering deal.

Amid cries of "Sit down." "Sit down." Mr. Gow explained that this was simply a Tiewsonpcv condensation of his criticism.

The Minister: My friend is also reported to have said, "We object to being treated as aliens a:nd not as children of Hie EitiDiro." ;

Mr. Gow (interiecting): "Hear, hear." ThoMinister: Well, I am sorry to hear you say that. '

At this sta<»o the chairman brought the interlude to /an abrupt close by calling on Mr. Jacobs for a song.