“FALLACIES.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3798, 29 May 1928, Page 3

“FALLACIES.”

MR. POLSON’S STATEMENTS,

CRITICISM BY FINANCE MINISTER,

Wellington, May 28

“Mr. Poison is the most irresponsible and reckless controversialist in the Dominion,” said the Hon. W. Downie Stewart when interviewed before leaving for the South tonight. “It is clear that he is still smarting from the fact that last year his erroneous interpretation of trade figures in their bearing on public finances was exposed and refuted. His recent speeches are an attempt to rehabilitate himself, but in each successive speech he not only continually changes his own figures, but what is more serious, he misquotes statements of those who differ from him. “It is interesting to note that even when he quotes borrowing foi the last seven years, he fails to point out that £15,700,000 of loans were for State advances, which cost the taxpayer nothing. Considering the many millions raised to help farmers in their difficulties Mr. Poison might have stated whether he disapproved of that aspect of our borrowing. At a later dato I may deal more fully with the innumerable fallacies that he keeps reiterating, but it would save time if he would pin himself down t something definite that lie is piepared to stand or fall by if the argument is to be of any value to the public.”