UNFAIR PLAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 229, 21 June 1919, Page 8

UNFAIR PLAY

DAIRY FARMERS' CRITICISM OF

MR. MASSEY

REPLY BY SIR JAMES ALLEN By Toleffranli—PrftKß ABsncJ&MnD Palmerston North, June 2fl. Sir James Allen handed I lie Press today tho following statement:— "In tho New Zealand 'Times' of January 18 appear some remarks from a special reporter in I'atinerston North of what is reported to havo been said by some of tho members of the Nationnl Dairy Association at: a recent .meeting. The Toport stated that; Mr. Agar said that butter equalisation came, about becauso of Mr. Mussey: Now, Mr. Massey was not in New Zealand when Iho lirst soheme of butter equalisation was adopted, and I am nblo to say that ho warned mo bv telegram more than onco about adopting the scheme. Tho second equalisation scheme was never forced on. tho dairy community.by Mr. Massey, but so far as my knowledge goes was agreed to and approved of by representatives ot the dairy industry themselves. "There was good reason why they should approve of it «t the time, because (hey knew or ought to have known tho difficulties tho Government was face to face with. For instance, there was indiis. trial unrest and an increase in the cost of living, and no Government vurth its salt could do other than protcct its own pcoplo against any undue increase in the cost ot living. There was also the position that shipping was under the control ot tho Imperial Shipping Controller, and we were dependent upon his decision as (o whether our produco was taken away ot not. Wo wero a long way from Great Britain, and it was easy to understand the Shipping Controller's quandary when lie wanted supplies urgently and could secure most of them from sources _o> supply much nearer to him than New Zealand was. Still we wero kept going, and I assert that Mr. Massey deserves great credit for tho strenuous way ho Worked to assist tho producers of this country. "To say that Mr. Massey was not. a whole-hearted supporter of tho dairy industry is as far from the truth as anything can bo. He is a farmer himself, and to my knowledgo has persistently fought in the best interests of tho dairy farmers and other ' producers.

"Tho remarks of Sir. Morton that Sir. Massey promised to discuss certain questions with tho Food Controller and <li(! not do so arc, so far as my knowledge (joes, incorrect. If the reference by Mr. Morton is to the question of insurance, then Mr. Massey did deal with it. ir tho reference is to the recognition of Mr. Ellison ns representative in .England, then I have to any that Mr. Massey did what it was possible at the time to do. He introduced or secured an introduction to the I'ood Controller for Mr. Ellison, but the question was not alone one of price, it was a. question of getting produce away jmd securing t.he_ sympathy and assistance of the Shipping Controller for fa.r-awav New Zealand produce. "Finally, I. draw attention to this attack 011 a man in his absence. It is not as if tho subject had not. been fully discussed before. Tt appears to be resurrected for a purpose which it is not difficult o understand. To those who nay bo called upon before long to exercise their franchise rights I make no special appal for Mr. Massed or any oilier 'wouldbe' politician, but I ask for fair play." STATEMENT BY HOiv. "tf. D. S. MACDOXALD. Br Tel««rauu—l'rusn AaaocUtlori. Palmorston North, .Tune 20. At the smoke conceit last night in connection willi 'Ihe w'nlcr slioir, ilir. Hon. AV. I). S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, referred to remarks made at iiie National Dairy Association's Conference regarding the treatment Initier producers had received from the Government., Air. Mac Donald said the Government v.-ns not antagonistic to iiuy section of the people, but was anxious to do its best i'or 'Ho great majority. He had a rooted tion to lying. .Some of the criticism levelled at' the Government was very much of that nature. At the conference two gentlemen from his electorate had stated Hurt there had been coimnandcer of produce. There had never been such a thing In the Dominion; but a satisfactory arrangement, had been mado with tho farmers, in which the latter concurred. The statement was also made that England was treating Kew Zealand as an alien, and- extorting unduo profits from her. ' 'This statement was contrary to fact. Those who astud that the arrangements for "the Imperial Government to purchase liuttcr should b"_ terminated could hardly he awaro of tiic fact that the same body of which they wero members had asked that the arrangements for the requisition and purchase of produce should be continued during tho period of the war and for tweivo months uftenrardsi At tho present moment there were over seven million carcasses of mutton in store, for which Ihe Home Government had advanced <5 iter cent, of tho value, Ixodes paying for storage and insurance. Sir Jainvs Alien and the speaker had communicated with Mr. Jlussev, who had arranged with rho .imperial Government lo take over tho supplies absolutely, and tney had advanced a large, sum of money on them' without interest. Their action had practieallv saved the country from bankruptcy, and had enabled it io do its share in helping to win 'the war.