SURPRISE VISIT

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 18898, 29 May 1936, Page 6

SURPRISE VISIT

MINISTER AND FARMERS. ATTACK OH "R POLSOK. COMPENSA’I‘ED PRICE ISSUE. (Special Reporter.) AUCKLAND. Thursday. A vigorous attack on recent. re« marks made by Mr \V. .1. Poison, MP. for Strati‘orti and Dominion president of the l-‘armcrs‘ l'niou. was made by the Minister of Agriculture. the lion. W. Lee Martin. when he paid an unexpected visit to the Auckland Provinriai Conference of the Farmers‘ Union at. the conclusion of the afternoon ses—sion to—day. The Minister was given a warm reception by the Auckland Provincial president. Mr ii. 0. Melsopp. and a large attendance of delegates. The Government would not promise to do everything the union wanted. but. the door would always be open to any representations made by members to the Ministers of the Crown. said Mr Martin. All the Government wanted was the opportunity to carry out its programme and if at the end of three years the farmers were not satisfied 1 the Government could not complain it it was thrown out of office. Legislation recently enacted would be to the biotnem of all sections of the commun v. The Government had already investigated the mortgage position and legislation regarding it was now before the House. " We have lived up to the promises we made before the election." said Mr Martin. “Itis no use Mr Poison com—i ing along and saying that the country ‘ is heading towards rank socialism. He ‘issued placards before the election ‘which stated that the Labour Party ‘ would ruin the country with its revolu- ‘ tionary principles. . “A Disappointed Man." i “ His is the despairing cry of a dis» appointed man." commented Mr Mar—tin. “He has changed so much politically that now he does not know on which road he is travelling. Some time ago after conferring with Labour iMinisters Mr Poison went to Tara- } hair! and told the farmers there that . they had nothing to fear from the new Government. I am afraid that the ihonourable member is living in the . past and appears to be making a . gambler's throw for the leadership of a. new party." eta-operation Invited. The Minister appealed to oonfeh once not. to hesitate to come to the Government with any scheme they had in mind for he would assure them that the Government would give every scheme its earnest consideration. Mem—bers of the union would always be received by the Government in a friendly and courteous manner. The Government. asked the assistance of the union in an attempt to restore prosperity to the Dominion. If the Government did nothing else but. re~ Store the purchasing power of the people its period of oillce would not have been in vain. Compensating Prloo. Asked to comment on a \Vaikalo remit dealing with the compensating price scheme, the Minister said the remit really came into the province of the Minister of Finance and he would not like to make any definite statement in the mattcr. As far as the coming season was concerned there was no chance of having compensating prices. It. had to he remembered that the guaranteed price scheme had not been finalised without the greatest deliberation. However. the scheme of compensating prices would receive the consideration of the Government when arriving at a price basis the following season. The whole. idea behind guaranteed prices was to give every farmer fair remuneration for the work that he was doing. Throughout all the years tho primary producers had been building up the, country‘s assets they had not been receiving a fair price. Stock Food lot. Questioned in regard to a remit to the effect that a stock food act should be enacted. the Minister replied that. the Government already had this matter well advanced and if the opportunity presented itself a stock food act. would be placed on the Statute Book during the coming session. In regard to the maintenance of present dipping regulations. the Minister said that if there was a genuine desire on the part of the farming community to have the regulations removed they certainly would be abolished. “ No Hostility." The compensating price scheme. said Mr Furniss. was supported in the belief that it would be for the benefit of the farmer. it was also to be hoped that it would ultimately be of good to the Government itself and enable its members to occupy the treasury benches for a long time to come. "i wish to assure the Minister in the sincerest. manner possible that we have not the slightest hostility toward the (i-Jvcrnment, and that any suggestions we make. is in the capacity of friends." concluded Mr Furnlss. We will not look upon any scheme such as the compensating price. as an endeavour to throw a spanner in the wheels." commented the Minister. “for \\'o welcome any suggestions that the union cares to bring forward.“