“BACKDOOR” METHODS CHARGED AGAINST OPPOSITION LEADER

Grey River Argus, 3 September 1948, Page 5

“BACKDOOR” METHODS CHARGED AGAINST OPPOSITION LEADER

P.A. WELLINGTON, Sept 2. The statement that the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) had obtained information by “backdoor” methods, and had used that information to undermine the confidence of the farming community in the Government, was made by Mr A. C. Baxter (Govt. Raglan) during the Budget debate in the House ot Representatives .tonight. Mr Baxter referred to the report in an Auckland newspaper that the Leader of the Opposition had twice hinted that legislation was being prepared/which would interfere with the freehold. He asked the Leader of the Opposition if those hints had any substance in fact. Mr. Holland: “Yes, they have.” Mr Baxter: “If the Leader of the* Opposition has any information about such a Bill, he must have got it by backdoor methods.” Mr Holland, said that he had not said where he had obtained his information, .and he was not going to be drawn. Mr Baxter: “I charge the Leader of the Opposition with making malicious statements. On Mr Speaker’s order, Mr Baxter withdrew the word “malicious” and he said that he would charge thethe Leader of the Opposition with undermining the confidence of the farming community in the Government. by making statements without any foundation in fact. “I charge him with doing that before the Bill comes down,” he said. He added that the proper time for the Leader of the Opposition to express an opinion on the Bill was when the measure appeared "before the House. An Opposition member asked: “Well, there is to be one then? FARMERS CHANCE TO' RUN FREEZING WORKS

Mr Baxter, continuing, urged that the Dominion’s farmers should now take over all of the freezing works in the country on co-operative basis. Mr Baxter said that never in New Zealand’s history, had the farmers been so well placed to make that co-operative move as they were today. There were now sufficient balances of the farmers’ own money in the pool accounts to enable it to be done, and the occupiers of the land should remember that they had a duty not only to themselves but to posterity. The farmers to-day had the wherewithal to buy all of the freezing works and the support for that step was far stronger among the farmers themselves than many of the Opposition members had yet admitted. Mr W. S. Goosman (Nat. Paiko): We disapprove, entirely, of it beingdone. Mr" M. H. Oram (Nat Manawatu): Is the honourable Member for Raglan flying a kite? Mr Baxter said there was also widespread support among the woolgrowers for accepting Mr Nash’s invitation to negotiate for a guaranteed price. REDISTRIBUTION OF LAND Mr Baxter said that there must be a redistribution of the land which was now being used by high country farmers. Unless those farmers above the snowline could get some flat land at the lower levels, their huge losses of sheep in winter time would continue. I suggest to the Minister of Lands that, at an early date, he should consider ways and' means of providing land at lower leyels for high country farmers,” said Mr Baxtei* Mr W. S. Goosman (Nat) said that the Leader of the Opposition had been accused of getting information by back door methods. Why was there such secrecy about the Land Bill? Had the Member for Raglan seen a draft of it? Mr Baxter: “I am on the committee! ,f Mr Goosman: “The cat’s out of the bag.” ANOTHER NATIONALIST APPROVES PAR EXCHANGE Mi’ Goosman said that Government members had treated the exchange position in a frivolous manner. He said not one Government speaker had given any consideration to those who would be affected by the restoration of our currency to par with sterling. He said that he was in favour of the parity with sterling in the British Empire.

Mr Goosman said that he did not approve of the manner in which the Government had made the adjustment. , , .... Mr F. Doidge (Nat., Tauranga): J wonder why Australia did not come in? Mr Goosman said there had been many other opportunities for the Government to make the exchange alteration previously. The move should not have been taken at the time that the Budget was presented. He asked did the Government have discussions with Australia, and did the Government consider what the Australian reaction would be. He asked how would the export of soft timber to Australia be affected. Was it the Labour Caucus which had made this decision, or was the Government forced into activity by the Left Wing? WHOLE CAUCUS MADE EXCHANGE DECISION Dr A. M. Finlay (Govt., North Shore) said that the decision to adjust the exchange rate was made by the Government Caucus. “The member for Piako spoke about the influence of members of the Left Wing, and he looked over to this corner of the chamber,” said Dr Finlay. “I am proud to acknowledge that I am a member of the Left Wing. That distinction is share with forty-one other members of the House, and by thousands of people outside the House.” He said that the restoration of New Zealand’s currency to a par with sterling was a decision of such magnitude that it could not but affect some people, and those people would have the utmost sympathy of the Government. Their cases would be very sympathetically met, if their difficulties were deserving of the slightest consideration. . . Dr Finlay, after discussing industries which could, possibly, be nationalised, said, in reply to an interjection by Mr W. A. Sheat (Nat.) that if the legal profession were socialised on the same lines as doctors, it would be the happiest in the world. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment at 10.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow. -