“IN A PANIC"

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20261, 2 August 1937, Page 8

“IN A PANIC"

LABOUR GOVERNMENT. OPPOSITION TO POLICY. MR HAMILTON’S VIEWPOINT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. ‘The statements made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and the Hon. P. Fraser at the Labour Party's reception to Mr Savage on Thursday show that the Government is in a state of panic over the great and widespread opposition to its policy being voiced all over the country,” stated the leader of the National Party, the Hon. Adam Hamilton. “Mr Savage and Mr Fraser are Indulging in the unprofitable pastime of whistling to keep their courage up. In order to hearten their supporters they endeavour to show that the Opposition to them Is negligible, but the hollowness of their hope is shown by the anxiety they are displaying. They know quite well that all the bluffing in the world will not stave off the retribution that will be handed out to them by the electors whom they misled so greatly. National Party’s Growth. “Apart altogether from the opposition being voiced by every organisation and every section outside the ranks of the militant trades unionists, the tremendous and gratifying growth of the National Party organisation and membership shows very clearly that the people are concerned with the situation and will demand very much more than a series of high-sounding platitudes. “The National Party could ask for nothing better than that the Prime Minister should carry out his intention of visiting the various centres of New Zealand,” said Mr Hamilton. “That is, of course, so long as Mr Savage will explain the vast difference between his party's promise and performance. Criticism Unanswered. “It Is a noticeable fact that although the Government claims to welcome criticism, never once has any criticism been effectively answered. On every occasion critical statements have been met with dissertations in which quantity is mistaken for quality and the point at issue has always been evaded. It has usually been accompanied by an attack on the press. “Further than this,” continued Mr Hamilton, “we find that from one end of New Zealand to the other dairyfarmers are complaining of the ruinous position in which they are finding themselves. Mr Fraser says the vast majority of dairyfarmers support the policy of the Government. Has lih not read the reports of Farmers’ Union meetings all over the country at which it is clearly pointed out that, to meet the increasing costs, an extra 3*d a pound for butter-fat is necessary? I suggest that something more is demanded in answer to these points than statements indicating that opponents will have to take their medicine, and attacks on the newspapers.” OPPOSITION LEADER’S COMMENTS REPLY BY HON. P. FRASER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. “ The Hon. A. Hamilton’s bad-tem-pered little outburst, while it does not do credit to liis imagination, must have been a severe strain upon it, and betrays no evidence of a sense of humour,” said the Hon. P. Fraser in a statement to-day. The Minister said if Mr. Hamilton imagined that the Government or the country is likely to mistake the utterances of hardened veteran, anti-Labour and pro-nationalist speakers at the Farmers’ Union conference for the voice of the dairy farmers of the Dominion. the sooner he recovers from, that delusion the better. “Evidence that the Government’s guaranteed price policy is supported by a great majority of tiie farmers concerned is overwhelmingly conclusive.” said Mr. Fraser. "That is natural because the guaranteed prices, plus brought them security and a sense of future safety.” He had nothing to say of the remainder of Mr. Hamilton's statement; its own absurdity was its own complete answer.