INTERPRETED AS THREAT

Evening Star, Issue 23421, 11 November 1939, Page 10

INTERPRETED AS THREAT

MR SAVAGE’S STATEMENT ON PRODUCTION FARMERS SERIOUSLY DISTURBED

[Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 11. Mr AA r . AV. Mulholland, Dominion president of the Farmers’ Union, has sent the following telegram to Mr Savage:— “ Farmers all over New Zealand ahe reading your words—' If private enterprise cannot provide the production that is necessary for us to carry out our promise to Britain, the Government will have seriously to consider other methods of doing the job ’—as a threat that the Government will take control of their farms, and are seriously disturbed. Their distrust of the Government’s intentions has been accentuated,” DISPOSSESSION NOT INTENDED PREMIER IN REPLY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 11. Replying to Mr Mulholland’s telegram, Mr Savage said : “ No person who is free from political bias could possibly read into my statement any intention on the part of the Government to take possession of the farms at present controlled by private enterSavage added that it would be clear to most people that if New Zealand was to play ite full part in the war it could not allow Great Britain and her Allies to be starved into submission. “ For that reason, if it is found to be necessary, the Government may bo forced to use its own resources to supplement the efforts of the farmers who, I am sure, will not bo found wanting. It is clear to me that 90 per cent, of the present agitation is based on political bias on the part of a few who are more concerned with embarrassing the Government than they are about the welfare of the farmers.”