ROUNDED OFF

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 6

ROUNDED OFF

ADDRESS=IN=REPLY DEBATE j IN HOUSE MINISTER ON MEAT CRISIS EARLY STATEMENT PROMISED. FIRST STAGE OF SESSION MAY END NEXT WEEK. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An intimation that it should be possible to finish easily the business of the first part of the session by the end of next week was made by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) when the House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. Like inembers of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said. Government members also had willingly foregone their rights to speak in the Address-in-Reply debate. The only other Government speaker’ would be the Minister of Agriculture. Mr Barclay, who would'speak on the serious position of the New Zealand meat export trade. Continuing the debate, Mr Barclay said that on account of shipping restrictions and sinkings, there was a crisis in meat marketing in New Zealand. A committee had been set up to consider the position and the report of this committee was now completed and would receive consideration by Cabinet shortly. He would be making a statement through the Press within a day or so.

- As far as this season's output was concerned, he continued, the Government would live up to its obligations. The Opposition had compared the treatment of Australian soldiers with that of Nev.' Zealand soldiers. Why, in Sydney had there been a riot among Australian soldiers who demanded the same conditions as New Zealanders, said the Minister.

After a brief reply to the debate by Mr Lowry, the Address-in-Reply motion was passed on the voices.