SOLD INTO BONDAGE

Evening Star, Issue 23340, 9 August 1939, Page 3

SOLD INTO BONDAGE

LABOUR'S TREATMENT OF FARMER ACCUSATION BY MR POISON [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 8. “ Instructions have gone out from the Trades Hall ‘To hell with the farmers,’ ” was the vivid statement cf Mr Poison (National, Stratford) during his speech on the Budget. The farmers, ho continued, realised the efforts to work up hate and enmity against them, and the repeated threats to make them suffer, but Labour, in view of the importance of the farming industry, was engaged in the occupation of cutting off its nose to spite its face. The Hon. P. Eraser: The member knows that this is awful nonsense. Mr Poison declared that the Government Yvas selling the farmers’ produce for sterling and handing the farmer its depreciated currency, though everybody knew that in a free market sterling was worth £l4O of New Zealand currency. Mr Fraser: Nobody pursues class hatred more than the hon. gentleman. Mr Poison; A Government which would not cut wages is deliberately cutting the wages of the 5 farming community. The farmer is being sold into bondage at the bidding of the Trades Hall. The fanner is a most law-abid-ing citizen, but when he sees industrialists striking and being able to avoid penalties, can the farmer be blamed if he thinbs of striking, too. No Government can ruin or starve any section of the people without paying the penalty for it.