FARMERS’ SUBSIDIES.

Evening Star, Issue 25809, 4 June 1946, Page 2

FARMERS’ SUBSIDIES.

. . TO THB SJJITOK. Sir, —“ Northender ” says that I have “entirely missed the point at issue.” There is only one “ point at issue ” between “ Northender ” and the writer. He has said that the Coalition Government of 1933 altered the exchange rate 25 per cent. I corrected him and asked him to reset his figures. He has not acknowledged his error, and still includes in his figures the exchange alterations of 1930-33, thereby maintaining. 'his former attitude that the alteration of 1933 was 25 per cent. For the third time may I ask: Does “ Northender ” blame the Australian Labour. Government for the alteration of 1930-33, which alterations he still includes in every • condemnation of the New Zealand Coalition Government? There is hot one sentence in any of niv letters regarding the advantages or disadvantages of the altered exchange. Therefore that is not the point at issue between us. Mr ; Moss joined . issue . with “ Northender ” on the other points, condemning both the Coalition Government for the alteration and the Labour Government for not correcting it.. There has been no reply to this from’ “Northender.” As to the “ applied lunacy ” distortion, “ Northender ” refers me to the ‘ Standard.’ The plain , facts are that Mr Thorn recited this Labour distortion, and, on the demand of Mr Holland, retracted it in the House. If the ‘ Standard ’ repeats Mr Thorn’s invention, it only shows that- -the ‘Standard,’ too, “is bankrupt of sound political argument.”—l am, etc., June 4. x G. Clarke.