“CLEVER AND DARING.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 194, 25 May 1940, Page 2

“CLEVER AND DARING.”

SPEECH BY FINANCE MINISTER. “VAIN AND OBSTINATE MAN” (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 24. * “That is the statement of a. vain and obstinate man who thinks that wisdom will die with him,” said Mr W. Machin, whpn speaking at a public meeting of the address on Thursday evening by the Hon. W. Nash. Mr Machin was referring to Mr Nash’s claim that the Dominion had done everything possible in its war effort and that New Zealand had done all it had been asked to do. Mr Machin was speaking in support of a motion that the Government set up a, National Government of men, irrespee- ! tive of party, to' conduct New Zealand’s war effort. He said Mr Nash’s speech over the air had been clever and daring, and evidently designed to blunt the spearhead of the argument which Mr Nash knew Avas to be pressed on the Government at meetings such as to be pressed on the Government at meetings such as to-day’s. “Instead of blunting the spear, howe\ r er, it has sharpened the spear, and shoAved how the spear could be driven home to the benefit of the Dominion and the Empire,” said Mr Machin who criticised . Mr Nash’s statement about the Government’s efforts to increase production and assure its shipment out of the country. Apart from holding down the price of fertiliser, could anyone say that the effort of the present Government had in any Avay increased production? Certainly production had been increased, but that'had been achieved not by Avorking a 40-hour week but by producers putting their backs into the' job' and producing more in the face of such obstacles as the fixed price for dairy produce. “We know that there is seething discontent among New Zealand dairy farmers Avho are Avilling to do their bit to increase production, but Ave know that from tlleir oavu knoAvledge of their industry they Avould not agree that any efforts of the Government had been directed toAvard encouraging them to increase their production,” said Mr Machin. The meeting carried motions demanding the formation of a, National Government and the introduction of universal national service. The meeting Avas attended by over 400 persons.