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Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 123, 20 November 1935, Page 18

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT

Stating that the Government had gone over to the farmers, Mr. R. A. Wright, Independent candidate for Wei-, lington Suburbs, attacked it for the, way in which it had assisted the farmers at the expense of the non-farming' section of the community, when he addressed electors at Kaiwarra last night. He stated that the Labour Party was doing exactly the same as the Government Party—bidding for the farmers' votes—and declared that the only , remedy was in a stable Government which would have the confidence of the people, and would deal fairly with all sections of the community and not bring in sectional legislation. Mr. Wright said an attack had been made on him because he was standing as an Independent. He was doing this because the party to which he had belonged for a number of years had practically deserted its standards and gone away in a different direction altogether. The Reform Party had always had as one of the major planks in its platform that there should be no class or sectional legislation. During the last few years, however, the Government had done practically nothing else except pass class legislation in. the interest of the farmers of the country. Mr. Wright stated that he wanted to see a strong Government in. p"ower which would have the confidence of the people of the country. Confidence was lacking in' New Zealand today, and' no country with lack of confidence in its Government could make any headway. What was sadly wanted was a Government to inspire that confidence and endeavour to restore prosperity. "LOCK, STOCK, AND BARBEL." "The National Government has. gone right over to the farmers, lock, stock, and barrel," said Mr. Wright. He would admit freely that many farmers were in difficulties, but that was no reason why the Government should have gone to the lengths it did in its assistance to them. There were about 80,000 farmers in the country, and with their wives and families they numbered, i 250,000 out of a population of one and a half million. There were three classes of farmers, and the first was the wealthy farmer who was in no difficulty. This class comprised 40 per cent, of the total, and 20 per cent, of them had investments, but the present Government raised the exchange rate and gave money to this class as well as' those who needed assistance. The second class of farmer comprised those. who were in difficulties, but with as- ■ sistance could be put on their feet. No ■ one would object to giving them assistance. The third class number those, in , a hopeless position, and it was far bet- : ter for them to give up and make a fresh start Dealing with the exchange rate, Mr. Wright said that imports were all loaded with the extra 25 per cent, exchange. When the Government paid its interest bill in London, it had to pay £1,500,000 by way of extra interest. Local bodies that had borrowed money also had to send an additional amount to London. In the last five years the raising of the exchange rate had cost the Wellington City Council a total of £203,043. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart had resigned on account of the raising of the exchange rate, and the majority of the banks had decided against it, but the Government had insisted on it being done for the benefit of the farmers rich and poor alike, added Mr. Wright. Mr. Wright produced a table of figures showing what he claimed the Government had done for the farmers at the expense of the rest of the community. The total amount by way of the exchange, reduction in interest, mortgage relief, and unemployment assistance, amounted to £14,383,000 in one year. A voice: Lucky farmers. Mr. Wright: That money was collected from the people of New Zealand— from the non-farming section of the community—for the benefit of the farmers. Mr. Wright said that everything that could be done for the relief of the farmer was done. Everything exclusively used by the farmer was exempted from sales tax and Customs duties. "I take exception to the fact that the wealthy farmers should receive a big share of the £14,000,000 collected from the rest of the people of New Zealand," he said. LABOUR AND THE FARMERS. "The Labour Party are doing exactly the same as the Government Party —bidding for the farmers' vote," declared Mr. Wright "They propose to give the farmers guaranteed prices. Who is going to make up the difference—the people of New Zealand? The two political parties are both trying to outbid each other for the farmers' vote while the city and suburban electors are between the upper and nether millstones. Labour will be compelled to carry out its policy and you will have to pay for it."

Mr. Wright said he believed that national prosperity could be brought to the country as long as there was a stable, solid Government, and one in which the people had confidence, composed of the very best brains in the House. The Labour Party would not agree with him, but he would like them to join and pick out the best men able to grapple with the position.

'"The remedy is to have a stable Government in which the people of New Zealand have confidence, and which they know will deal fairly with all sections of the community and not bring in sectional legislation," said Mr. Wright.

A resolution thanking Mr. Wright for his address, but expressing no confidence in him as the representative of the electors in the Kaiwarra district, was put forward by a member of the audience, but was not accepted by the chairman (Mr. R. E. Flaws). Another member of the audience stated that the motion of confidence or no confidence should be left to the ballot, and moved as an amendment a vote of thanks to Mr. Wright. This was carried.