MR. FRASER'S CLAIM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 52, 24 November 1937, Page 3

MR. FRASER'S CLAIM

- fress A ssociation. )

Security for Dairy-Farmer

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The criticism of the guaranteed price scheme by Mr. Coates drew a reply from the Minster of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser. He claimed that the Opposition' s alternative policy would plunge the country into disaster. Mr. Fraser's intervention in the debate led to some rapid exchanges between Government. and Opposition members. "We know the condition to whicli the dairy industry was reduced by the last Government," Mr. Fraser said. "Now we liave given the dairy-farmer security and Iie feels that he is getting an as^irccl rc>vra.rd for lvjs InljUlU' Ulld enterprise. Mr. Coates has shown that he does not understand the legislation laying down the guaranteed price procedure for last year. He read it to the House, but he can read it without understanding it." Mr. -Coates: You tied the committee * inveatigating the pric« hand jeot.

The Minister : The only thing that is tied is the brain-functioning of the right honourable gentleman. Mr. Coates : Thank you very much. "The member for Kaipara is becoming the most reckless debater in the House," asserted Mr. Fraser, when repeating his claim that Mr. Coates did not understand the guaranteed price legislation. "That is abuse, and abuse is not argument," retorted Mr. Coates. Mr. Fraser said the committee was given the .widest possible order of reference and Mr. Coates had not quoted one relevant point to which it did not give consideration. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) : The recommendation of the committee was not accepted. The Minister fixed the price. "The price was at least as good as or better than the recommendation,'' Mr. Fraser said. "The members of the other side want a minmuna price. But they will not say just what ihe prict should be, Does the Opposition deny that it w&nts to take away the guaranteed price? "The only definite reference to what a minmum price would be was heard some years ago from the member for Stratford," Mir. Fraser said. "Then he talked about a repayable advance of lOd a pound. The efforts of this Government have meant establishing st'ability and security for the farmer. In the last 10 years, under the regime of the previous Governments, we saw hundreds of men walking off their dairying farms, then a period of prosperity, and again the farmer losing all he had." Mr. W. P. Endean (Opposition, Parnell); Will the Government give' ' the wool farmer stability ? Mr. Fraser: If the wool farmer comes along he will he very welcome. The Minister claimed that if ihe policy of the Opposition were put into effect with the dairy industry .there would be a repetition of the • period when hundreds of farmers lost their holdings. There Would be the same exploitation, the same artificial increase of priees and the same boom in land values, he said. "The policy . of the National Party, which has not been definitely announced, but which is being sniffed at, will be a second disaster to New Zealand," Mr. Fraser added. "It will take away stability and security from the farmer and bring about again that speculation in land values, and at the end of a period of alternate low and high priees, with this miserable minimum price in the background, will mean disaster to the dairy-farmer and to thewhole country." The Government's guaranteed' price and marketing schemee for dairy produce were defended by Mr. r. Coulter ((Government, Waikato). Dairy-farm-ers, he said, would not thank the Opposition for its criticism of the guaranteed price plan, for never before had they experienced such a degree of stability and security. Farmers had'impoved their positions enormously as a, result of the guaranteed price scheme. They were now in a position whereby they could budget ahead for 12 months, and plan their programme to suit their income.