PRICE DISPARITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25293, 29 August 1945, Page 9

PRICE DISPARITY

SETTLEMENT QUESTION DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday If there were to be a settlement of lend-lease the Government would not he prepared to accept one based on the disparity between pre-war and present day prices, said Mr T. H. McCombs (Government—Lyttelton) in the debate on the Financial Statement in the House of Representatives today. The subject of the future of lend-lease had been raised by the previous speaker, Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition—Tauranga). "Under the lend-lease agreement New Zealand is about £25,000,000 on the wrong side of the ledger," said Mr Doidge. "The Minister of Finance still holds the view that there will be no 'day of reckoning, but I must disagree and I consider that now is the time to seek a reckoning with the United States. America has supplied goods and services valued at £83,000,000, while in return we have supplied £58,000,000 worth. But it must be remembered that America sold to us at wartime prices while w<3 supplied to her at pre-war prices goods which were treble the prewar value. We have gone short so that the United States forces in the Pacific may have full rations. Britain's Example "Business on this basis does not make sense and the United States would be the first to agree. Britain had no hesitation in making an allowance for the difference in prices—hence the lump sum payment of £25,000,000 —while New Zealand had no hesitation in asking for it and accepting it. Why the differentiation between Britain and the United States? Under a similar agreement the United States would owe us between £20,000.000 and .£30,000,000. No doubt the Americans would regard such a claim as just and if we did not make it they would regard us as a 'bunch of saps.' The sum should be paid into the London funds so that Britain also could share in it." "I am pleased to know that the member accepts the fact that the lump sum payments were made as an adjustment between export and import prices," said the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash. "I am only basing my statement on the assurances of the Minister," replied Mr Doidge. Mr McCombs' Views The intention under lend-lease was that goods used for war should be provided by the country that produced them, said Mr McCombs. So far there had been no indication of an alteration in procedure. There might be a different Government in the United States which would ask for some settlement and if a settlement were requested New Zealand would not be prepared to accept it if it were based on the disparity between pre-war and present prices. If there was no indication that the United States was going to seek a settlement, then there was no reason to disturb the price structure. • The cancellation of lend-lease was a problem not only for Britain, but also for New Zealand, Mr McCombs concluded. No doubt the American forces would still require supplies, chiefly of foodstuffs, from New Zealand and such other assistance as the Dominion could give. He would be sorry if this was reduced to a cash basis on a New Zealand price level. TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES NEW AGREEMENT SOUGHT A SETTLEMENT EXPECTED The negotiations between the Auckland Transport Board and the tramway employees for a new industrial agreement came before the Arbitration Court yesterday. Mr W. E. Anderson, representing the board, said there_ was every hope of a settlement, if so the parties would enter into an industrial agreement. If it should happen that a settlement was not reached, they would ask the Court for another fixture during the present sittings. • The secretary of the union, Mr E. A. Whitlow, confirmed that that was the position and said there would be a meeting of the union tomorrow. Air Justice Tyndall adjourned the case sine die, and remarked that if there was no settlement the parties could approach the Court and ask for further help. "W 7 e wish you all luck in reaching a settlement," he added. MONEY BY FRAUD SICKNESS BENEFIT CASE WOMAN SENT TO GAOL Three charges of obtaining < social security benefits by presenting sickness benefit forms she herself had signed with doctors' names were admitted by Constance Wallace, a waitress, aged 42, before Mr S. I. Goodall, S.M., yesterday. A total of £ll was involved. Accused was a single woman who had for the last two months been employed as housekeeper by a man at Milford, Senior-Detective Trethewey said. She had been under treatment by Dr Horsley, and later by Dr J. A. Watson, who had signed certificates for her entitling her to £1 a week sickness benefit. Later, he considered she was well and woult not sign further certificates- Accused then signed three herself, obtaining £3. Later, she did the same thing with certificates purporting to have been signed by Dr Dreaaon. "Accused made a mistake when she signed one certificate. . 'Dr John Dreadon,' " Mr Trethewey said. *"lt yas known that he never signed in that vay." She was fortunate that she had lot been charged with forgery and ittering. There was a previous convic;iou for theft in 1941. In answer to the magistrate, accused aid she was ill at the time. The doctors iad refused to sign further certificates md she needed the money. The magistrate said he hoped in uture that the Social Security Departnent would have a register of doctors' ignatures to prevent a recurrence of irnilar offences. He could not accept ccused's excuse that she was ill. If she onsidered she was entitled to the benet and that the doctors had been wrong, lie could have tested _ the medical pinion by another examination. Sentence of one month's imprisonment 'as imposed. GAOL FOR THEFT A charge of stealing 11 bottles of tger beer valued at £1 3s lOd was Bnied by a cook, Leonard Hilton owndes, aged 49, when lie appeared afore Mr S. I. Goodall, S.M., yester;iy. Stating that accused had a list of I previous convictions, the magistrate nposed a sentence of one month's gaol.