“INTERESTED TRADER”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 724, 25 July 1929, Page 7

“INTERESTED TRADER”

MR JONES’S THRUST AT MINISTER LOWERING OF WHEAT DUTIES (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDG., Wednesday. Allegations toy Mr. D. Jones that the Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral, was a member off the 192 S committee, and that he was interested in the lowering of wheat duties, from a commercial point of view, caused all eyes in the House to turn on the Mim ister tonight. The Minister consulted the Prime Minister evidently with the object of making an explanation, but eventually he did not rise to speak. Mr. Jones maintained that an understanding on wheat duties had been arrived at by the Cabinet, and that there was going to be a reduction. Of course, a select committee was to be set up but Cabinet had arrived at an understanding. Mr. Donald had said that he was going to vote for a reduction in duties. "That was a Ministerial statement I was pledged to,” protested Mr. Donald. Mr. Jones: You are going to. if the Government does not help the Postmaster-General out, his resignation will have to go in. (Laughter.) Mr. Jones said . that a prominent member of the Government, was going round tile House to enlist aid on the subject. “I am going to ask the Post-master-General if he lias any right to decide this question,” he continued. "I suggest that Mr. Donald is a trader in wheat.” “Ohs!” from Reform. Mr. Jones: And in flour. Mr. Jones said that it was known that farmers and consumers were not raising the questions, but the traders. The 192 S committee was behind it, and one of its supporters and members was in the Cabinet. There was surprise expressed here, and several questions were asked as to who the member was. Mr. Jones: Pie said that he was going to vote for a reduction in wheat duties. He went on to say that the Government should bring down a policy on these subjects, and stick to it. He suggested that the farmer was being exploited, and he would give the facts about this in the Budget debate. Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East): Did you say a member of the 192 S committee was a member of Cabinet? / Mr. Wilford: Who is he? But Mr. Jones would not be drawn any more. He said that the Minister of Justice had made an interjection that already he was sorry for.