POLITICAL WHEAT DEAL

Evening Star, Issue 20253, 14 August 1929, Page 8

POLITICAL WHEAT DEAL

“ FREELY JWUREO ” NORTHERN MEMBER’S REFLECTIONS [Fkom Odu Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August, 13. In venturing on criticism of the Government’s intention in' setting up a Select Committee to report on wheat duties, Mi Rushworth (Bay of Islands) used expressions which Mr Speaker asked him to withdraw. Ho declared that it was freely rumoured that the Government had done a deal with the wheat growers. This was freely rumoured at the Farmers’ Union Conference, and when, the member lor Egmont had quit© reasonably suggested that the Select Committee bo increased by , four North Island members, the Minister of Lands,did not dare to take the risk of accepting that suggestion. “I am satisfied,” continued Mr Rushworth, “ that the decision of that committee, if not already written, is agreed lipon, and the finding of that committee is already discredited.” The 'Hon. G. W. Forbes (Minister of Lands) raised a point of order whether the speaker was justified in saying that the verdict had been settled. The committee, he pointed out, had not met. . Mr Dickie (Patea); The dice seems to be loaded. Mr Speaker held that references to the committee being already discredited were a reflection which must bo withdrawn, and the member for the Bay of Islands complied. He made no further reference to the subject.