THE REPORT CONSIDERED

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 38, 13 August 1920, Page 10

THE REPORT CONSIDERED

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

, When the Imperial Supplies report came before the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu) enlarged upon the significance to the Dominion of the large quantity of produce that had been.sent away during the war period, and the general prosperity it had meant to the country. Mr: A. D. M'Leod (Wairarapa.) quoted the automatic increase, over five-yearly periods prior to the war, in the Dominion's primary exports. In the period 1904 ( to 1909 the growth was 2J millions; between 1909 and 1914 it had increased by four millions; between 1914 and 1919 by ten millions. It was, therefore, fair to assume that all the increase was not due to the war. but that a proportion of it would have been shown, war or no wax. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) said that bad' debts and the high cost of delivery were responsible for the high. cost of meat in. New Zealand. ■ H& went into detail concerning the profits made out of New Zealand produceiby the Imperial authorities, and maintained that the farmers of New Zealand were conceding in connection with the commandeer over £16,000,000.t0 the Imperial authorities. The farmers, were entitled to credit for that. Mr. Lysnar also explained his attitude to the 1 wool commandeer now

that the war was over, and maintained that he was the only producer who had adhered to the law.

"A member: " What are you going to do with the wool you have held?

Mr. Lysna-r: "At the proper time I will send it Home'and sell it.'

The Prime Minister said he was glad to endorse the opinion that the commandeer had been on the whole of ,great! benefit to the Dominion, and that tho Department had,, been run without a hitch. It had been impossible to prevent a small proportion of tho produce in store, but a-very small proportion, to go bad and have to be jettisoned. Tho member for Chrislchurch Eaat was quite mistaken when he said that a shipment of 40,000 boxes of butter was sent to England and came back again. The incident to which 'the member referred occurred before the war. It was folly to say that tho high cost of living had resulted from the export' of produce; what had caused the increase was' tho cost of imported manufactured articles. Prices of many raw materials had fallen, but it could not be expected that it would bo refiw.fcsd tho same day in the cost of the manufactured article. As far as the member for Gisborne was concerned, he was within his rights and w.-thin the law, but whetherhe had done tho right thing remained to be seen. That was the member's own business. In reply to interjections, Mr. Massey said that if the wool-growers wished to continue their patriotic, efforts they could hand to the Finance Minister the wool profits, and in return receive debentures bearing a good interest.