FOOTING THE BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 193, 17 August 1939, Page 5

FOOTING THE BILL.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S FART 'By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "Wait until he gets back in a fortnight,'' was an interjection made by tlie acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, in the House of Representatives last night when Mr. W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) pictured the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash) on the penitent stool before London financiers pleading for help to get the Government out of the difficulties it had made for itself.

Mr. Bodkin retorted that Mr. Nash would get a warm welcome from the Government's Left wing, which had made more difficult the task of endeavouring to get the British Government to foot the bill when New Zealand went on the market for its loan. The Minister had to request a guarantee from the British Government despite the fact that when the Labour Government took office there were £47,000,000 of overseas funds.

There had, he said, been no failure on the part of producers since Labour took office, for production had increased by f70.000.000 in three years, showing that farmers had supported the Government magnificently.

Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West): Who is the patriot now ?

Mr. Bodkin: Who aoeepts the responsibility? A most unpatriotic thin<* is to misrepresent the wonderfulBritish Government has played in helping the Dominion Government out.