GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21506, 22 June 1935, Page 16

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

j CRITICISM BY LABOUR | LEADER EXECUTIVE COMMISSION OF AGRICULTURE . (THESS ASSOCIATrOK TSkEOEAK.) AUCKLAND, June 21. Criticism of the Government's policy and of the recent legislation as it affects the farmers of New Zealand ! was made by the leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage) In an address at Maungaturoto. Mr Savage contended that the Agriculture (Emergency Powers) Act established a virtual dictatorship in the primary industries. 11 empowered the Govcrnor-Gcneral-in- Council to transfer to the Executive Commission of Agriculture any powers conferred by statute or otherwise on the New Zealand Meat Producers" Eoard, the Dairy Produce Export Control Board, the Fruit Export Control Board, any local control board provided for under the Fruit Control Act, 1924, the Honey Control Board, and the Poultry Board. The effect of the Mortgage Corporation of New Zeala.nd Act was to destroy the financial contracts entered into between the Slff.tr. and its clients and to hand over to the corporation—a semi-privately controlled body—the securities upon which those contracts were based. "The Rural Mortgagers (Final Adjustment) Act provides no immediate relief for farmers in dill ieultics," continued Mr Savage. During a five-year period those farmers sacking relief would be subjected to budgetary control of a type similar to the inquisitoiial methods of the Unemployment Board in dealing with relief workers. Mr Savage said that while farmers were subject to rapidly changing external conditions and prices, there could be no security for them or for any other section of the community. The farmers' diffcultics .could be solved only by n readjustment of mortgages; the payment of guaranteed prices and State control of the monetary system, with the establishment of the principle of a currency based on tho good r ; and services which wore exchanged. Mr Savage also advocated a universal system of superannuation, a nation,-)) health service based upon universal insurance, reform >uf the system of unemployment relief, and an adjustment of overseas debts, in accord with ruling monetary and irach* conditions. • j