MINISTER'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 91, 18 April 1945, Page 6

MINISTER'S REPLY

ALLEGED FOOD WASTAGE

"Mr. J. Maher, an obscure Tory propagandist who recently at a Tory Party meeting made an immoderately worded .statement alleging waste of food through shortage of labour at unspecified freezing works, now claims that I have avoided the issue because in the course of my reply I proved that no such waste through shortage of labour had occurred in the Wellington district," said the Minister of National Service (Mr. McLagan) in a statement today. "Mr. Maher should re-read his original statement and then ask himself whether the conclusion that he was referring to the Wellington district did not naturally follow from its context. ...

"Mr. Maher, who has not yet seen fit to make a plain and unequivocal statement as to the location of the freezing works he has referred to, now has the audacity to ask me what he calls 'two plaiu questions' and to demand answers thereto.

"If he were as concerned as he would pretend at the loss suffered" by consumers in Great Britain, his obvious first care would have been to have reported any alleged wastage to the authorities for immediate investigation. To withhold such information with the purpose of playing a game of political 'tag' or 'touch last' brands his outburst as mere crocodile tears.

"If Mr. Maher wishes to have any further notice taken of his allegations, he will first have to learn how to make a plain and straightforward statement of his alleged information."