NO THREATS WILL PREVAIL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 264, 4 August 1944, Page 7

NO THREATS WILL PREVAIL

Stabilization Policy PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT "The Stabilization Commission have a job to .do —not to pander to any section, not to placate any section, not to bribe any section, but to slant l , four-square in a reasonable manner. You have talked straight, to me. That is. Hie language I understand, and my straight talk to you amounts to this : M e were returned to run the country for the war period aud lor a reasonable'period after the war. on it stabilization policy. That policy will stand. Tliis statement was made by Ihe I rime Minister, Mr-. Fraser, nt. the Domiuion dairy conference in Wellington yesterday after disappointment hud been expressed bv the chairman of the New Zealand Dairv Board, Mr. W. E. Hale, at the nature of the references made to stabilization during an address by the Prune Minister. . "I do regret that you have not been more definite on a most important issue so far as the individual producers are concerned,” said Mr. Hale. "Be asked for reconsideration of the announcement made by the Prime Minister before he went overseas. We had hoped today would be the definite settlement of this particular question, but apparently we arc still to go on discussing this matter with the Stabilization Commission, and that has just not been satisfactory. (Cries of hear, hear.) It is my duty as chairman of this conference to place before you the bare facts, and I hope that an eariv solution will be found. , Me are not going to have a happy and 'contented industry doing their job, as they are anxious to do, in the growing war effort.’

“I thank Mr. Hale for his quite can T did statement. I am accustomed to candid statements being made on stabilization from every section of the people.” said Mr. Fraser. "I will be meeting this afternoon a deputation which may express similar discontent with stabilization as it affects particular industrial workers. I don't know of any complete satisfaction with stabilization or the Stabilization Commission. If they were universally applauded, then they would have to be sacked.

“During my absence certain changes were made and certain relaxations that were considered advisable. I do not know of anv conditions that in wartime can be absolutely static and immovable. The question of what can be done in the present circumstances is obviously a, matter for discussion as fur as the Stabilization Commission is concerned. So far as the Government is concerned it stands, foursquare for stabilization, because it believes in it. There, are thousands of its supporters who are not only fretting under stabilization, but are actually hostile to it. That does not matter. “If the Government cannot keep this country sound and stable, it is better out of office. and I would step down tomorrow rather than agree to a policy that would ruin this country. There arc no threats that will avail.”