Mr Fraser’s Questions

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25954, 7 November 1949, Page 6

Mr Fraser’s Questions

The questions Mr Fraser has addressed to Mr Holland might more reasonably have been asked of the National candidate for Karori, Mr C. M. Bowden. On Mr Fraser’s own showing they appear to have been prompted by a reported remark of Mr Bowden’s about reducing the volume of money and credit. Mr Fraser has chosen to address them to Mr Holland, presumably because he hopes to establish that the basis of the National Party’s monetary policy is deflation. Mr Fraser says that on “ all the evi- “ dence ” that is the National Party’s policy. What evidence Mr Fraser has studied is not clear, but he cahnot believe that he has found it in the policy of the National Party. Mr Holland has often said (not only in this election campaign) that he believes the supply of money and the supply of goods are out of equilibrium. He has said just as often that the remedy is not to reduce the volume of money. He has pinned his faith to increasing the production of goods; and the policy of his party is designed to- that end. It is curious that Mr Fraser does not criticise the measures and incentives proposed, nor ask questions about them. This is in itself a compliment to the National Party’s policy. Mr Fraser prefers to attack something that is not there rather than the things that are there.