"YOU SAY IT NICELY, BUT—!"

Evening Post, Issue 20, 24 January 1935, Page 10

"YOU SAY IT NICELY, BUT—!"

' "While I am concerned with the potato growers of my electorate, I am concerned with the citrus growers on the mainland as well." With these winning .words Mr. J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister of all Australia, addressed a meeting in little Tasmania, wheve mary of Australia's potatoes come from. The plea that Mr. Lyons made to his electors was an eloquent one, and his arguments were not resisted, but the conclusion they point to was flatly negatived. He first pictured to die island potato grower the plight of the mainland citrus grower, who erected a stall outside his holding and sold mandarins at 6d a. bucket and oranges at Is a bucket—the very best. Secondly, he suggested ' that -if citrus fruits were sold in,' New Zealand, the citrus grower's increased purchasing power (derived from New Zealand money and higher prices in Australia's internal market) would benefit Tasmanian potatoes. Thirdly, he told the Tasmanians that Australian citrus fruits would enter New Zealand if Australia raised the embargo on New Zealand potatoes. The audience heard the irrefutable arguments proceed to their irresistible conclusion; then it passed a vote of thanks to the pleader, and a vote of rejection of the plea. During the Boer War Lord Kitchener is reported to have said to a dissenting junior officer: "Your reasons for not giving effect to my order are the best I have ever heard; now go and do it!" Tasmania is proud of Mr. Lyons and his mental agility, but the potato grower is Kitchener.