MR O’BRIEN’S REPLY

Grey River Argus, 15 August 1944, Page 5

MR O’BRIEN’S REPLY

TO ANTI-LABOUR PROPAGANDA Milk and Other Questions The milk question in Greymouth and West Coast harbours were discussed by Hon. J. O’Brien, Minister of Transport and Marine, and Member for Westland in his public address in the Lyceum Hall, Greymouth las evening. Mr, O’Brien also replied to critics of the Government and answered a number of questions. There was a large attendance. The Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitcliingham) who presided, said that Greymouth people were glad that O’Brien had come down to adaress them on his two topics, which were of great importance to them. Mr. O’Brien said that the milk question was one which was concerning a lot of people just now. He wanted to give some idea of the difficulties faced by suppliers. Late last year he had had from Mr. J. Muicare, secretary .of the Farmers’ Union, a request that assistance be given because of increased costs, mainly due to increased prices, especially in winter fodder. It was fairly obvious that these prices had risen, in some cases by nearly 100 per cent. Representations made to the Government had perhaps not been taken as seriously by. some people as they should have oeen, and in April or May demands had been made that the increased prices be taken over in subsidies or something of that kind. Finally, when an attempt was being made to negotiate an agreement betwen the suppliers andtyhe Government, stabilisation had stepped in and perhaps hindered the negotiations from being brought to completion as early as was at first thought possible. By this time the producers said that _ they would increase the price, in spite of everything. He had said then that that would not be tolerated, and that the Government had to govern, come what may. It was not going to be dictated to.

A voice: “It will be.” Mr. O’Brien: “It won’t be! No matter who the people are who say that the Government is not going to rule, they are going to have a rude awakening.”. Continuing Mr. O’Brien said that milkman had taken certain action. However, later the price had been reduced, to its former figure again, and zoning had also been introduced. In the meantime a committee haci been set up under the chairmanship of Mr. R. P. Connell, of the Department of Agriculture, a well-trusted man, who would bring in a fair and impartial report a's to what the milkman should get—and they would gel something. He thought himself that they should get a better price, but thought there might be a difference between the straight-out vendor and the producer. The position now was that zoning was in operation and that a committee was to report on the question of costs almost immediately. Zoning was exercising the minds of quite a lot of people just now. The milk supply in towns in New Zealand had been zoned. T'here had been difficulties in some towns —people had got the wrong milkmen and so on; but if people did not want to be served by a particular milkman they could purchase at a dairy. There was difficulty too, when milkmen did not get the gallonage they were entitled to, but after a while the scheme had settled down. It did mean something to milkmen in not having to travel, so far. Good, pure milk and of a certain strength of butter-fat had to be assured, and if a milkman did not conform with this he would have to go out of business. He understood that a petition was to be presented regarding zoning in Greymouth and would be prepared to receive that next day. In the meantime zoning was going ahead and he thought it would continue till the end of the war. It was necessary in order to save manpower and because there was less rubber and petrol now than for many years past. On his recent visit to Australia an agreement had been reached for limited supplies of tyres, though not all that were wanted. Some adjustments had to be made in the milk zoning scheme, but he was sure that when those adjustments had been made it would would work all right. Mr. O’Brien’s references to harbours on the West Coast were along the lines of his reply to the deputation from the Progress League earlier in the day. CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. Mr. O’Brien said that in these and other matters .he objected to the propaganda element which suggested that the Government and he himself had not done their job. There were some people who took advantage of every opportunity to criticise the Government. No Government could fight a war for five years without offending a lot of pedle; but it had been admitted that the Government had done the finest job in the world in the war effort. We were told that the Government had done some unpopular things. Recently the censorship had been criticised. It had been necessary in wartime to examine tne correspondence of some people living in New Zealand because some letters had given information affecting the safety of ships. Australia had proved that it was necessary and had discov- ! ered the existence of people in league with Japan. He recalled that the late Mr. H. E. Holland’s correspondence had been censored for three or four years after the war. In one case of censorship of articles sent overseas which had recently been referred to, one of the articles stopped had been a reflection on the fair name of the women of New Zealand. Who would say that that should not have been ? One only had to look at the daily press to see the finest censorship m the world, Mr. O’Brien continued. Labour speeches were well and truly censored. The Prime Minister had said that in the nine years that Lab.our had ruled, he had not seen one leading article in favour of the Labour Government Mr. Holland had said he was in favour of good old capitalism and had talked about reducing taxation with the war still on. It was possible that there would not be peace in Europe this year, and even when there was, it would still be necessary to exterminate the Japanese, who were fanatical fighters. New Zealand found nearly half of its war expenditure from taxation, but the Opposition’s idea evidently was to reduce taxation and borrow. The Chambers of Commerce said it was a fine country, but he asked would it be a fine country if it was burdened with dent after the war as it would be under that policy. Under such a policy ther e would be no social security and Sir William Beveridge in England might plead in vain. There were complaints to-day that no more profits were allowed, because of the excess profits tax. Profits had been allowed in the last war, and the present Government would become more and more unpopular because it did not allow it. It had been said that the lower paid man did not get enough, and this was true and would have to be adjusted. There had been complaints about tne treatment of the farmers, but when the farmer was down on his knees there was not one man in the Opposition who had anything to say—excepting a Farmers’ Union official, who said that something had to be done for the' farmers, and that the difference of threepence between costs and

prices should be made up, but that when the price rose above costs n should be taken back again. Now tne butter-fat price was going on for Is <a It had been said that they had robbed the farmers. He had travelled amongst them when a price of 1/3 had been advocated and had been told tyiat 1/- would b e enough. The present Government had written oft about £Bi million in mortgages. Yet he had been told that some farmers were pouring skim milk down the drains and would not fatten pigs because the Government would take it off them. This year had seen the biggest agitation of all against the Government. He had had an idea when he came to Greymouth to speak that there been a fair amount of criticism and he wanted to give some idea of the reason. Labour still had a programme, and much of their earlier programme had been adopted by the National Party. Labour wanted social security to continue, it wanted a guaranteed minimum income, and decent wages and conditions for all. Recently it had given farmers’ wives and sons and families a vote and it had been said that they were taking away the privilege of the farmers. A guaranteed minimum income should be based on what would keep a family in comfort. If the world tried to follow New Zealand, the country must be a lesson to the rest of the world. If people wanted things to continue as they had during Labour’s rule, they had to be vigilant about it and must not be led astray by the Chambers of Commerce and agitators of all kinds. Labour could not afford paid organisers in the way the National Party did, but had to depend on those it was legislating for to do some organising. It people wanted a guaranteed minimum wage and the other improvements ot Labour rule, they would have to ao some organising for themselves and not leave too much to the agitators on the other side. MANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED After his adress Mr. O’Brien answered a number of questions. To Mr. J. Duffy, who asked if the idea of zoning was to conserve tyres and petrol, Mr. O’Brien said that this was so in part, but it would save running about for the man, too. He did not know of any milkmen who had made fortunes and he thougm. thy wanted assistance. He wanted to do his best for them. He personalty did not blame the milkmen when they said they would put the price up in spite of the Government. The Government had been a bit too long in settling it. But .he knew, they should not do it. He expressed the opinion that a co-operative or a municipal scheme might be a good idea. Mr. R. P. Chibnail said that the average milkman to the average customer was more than a purveyor of milk—he was a friend. People were quite willing to pay more for milk and have the milkman they wanted. The manpower saving amounted to .only about an nour a day.

Mr. O’Brien said he thought an hour was important. The milkman might have personality but the main thing was that he put the milk in a billy—if it was in the right place. There was not going to be a return to the old way. Mr. J. Doyle suggested that regarding the price a survey had been made and nothing done at the present meeting would affect the issue. On the question of zoning he objected to having a milkman fostered on to him. but would be agreeable to taking any milk if there was a central depot with milk up to standard or if there was inspection by, the health authorities. Mr. O’Brien said he had been assured that there would be a thorough investigation into the price question. He did not know what the enquiry officers were reporting but felt sure that everyone, would be satisfied. Mr. C. K. Morel, convenor of a protest meeting held at Greymouth regarding milk zoning, said he would be glad to present a petition to Mr. O’Brien the next morning. Mr. J. M. Bunt said he had no quarrel with Mr. O’Brien’s attitude that the Government must be satisfied that any money spent on a deep-sea port would be well-spent, and he as /sured Mr. O’Brien that any suggestions made that he had left Westland down did not come from a'ny member’ of the executive of the Progress League. He thought this might have been occasioned 1 by the Prime Minister’s reply to the* Westland Masters Builders’ Association to the effect that, as it had been decided to make Westport a-national harbour, lie presumed this would meet the Association’s objection. Mr. Bunt-said he found it hard to believe that the Prime Minister would send that reply without making himself thoroughly familiar with the position. He asked Mr. O’Brien if he could give any explanation. Mr. O'Brien said he agreed that at first glance the construction placed on the letter by Mr. Bunt might have been read into it. However, the Prime Minister knew the position well. He could give a guarantee that it had not been the Prime Minister’s intention to state that a national harbour at Westport would suit Greymouth, though he agreed that the letter was capable of wrong interpretation. Mr. Bunt said that the people of this part of the district were never going to be satisfied with a bar harbour and would not be satisfied till a thorough investigation of the question of a deep-sea harbour had been made. It was recognised, however, that Westport had to be kept open. Mr. W. D. Taylor said that he thought that in fairness to Mr. O’Brien the impression created by the letter from the Prime Minister, through Mr. Thorn should be corrected and asked Mr. O’Brien Jf he would see that this was done; also whether he would urge the Government to conduct an urgent and thorough investigation into the possibility of constructing a deep-sea harbour on the West Coast. Mr. O’Brien said die would see that the wrong impression was corrected and that the deep-sea-harbour question was investigated. Mr. J. B. Kept then moved tne following resolution: “That this meeting, having heard Mr. . O’Brien on harbour matters, is satisfied that he and the Government are doing everything possible to co-operate with tne Harbour Board to irqpove the f acilities of the Geymouth Habour. Tvlr. Kent said that from his own experience he knew the Government was doing everything that could be done. Mr. Furkert had gone to Australia as a result of his experiences in Greymouth. The Government was willing to assist financially with £lOO,OOO or more. The engineer’s recommendations on what should be done now were being acted on, and the model being built would test the feasibility of Cobden harbour. The motion was seconded by Mr. Duffy and carried unanimously. Mr. O’Brien thanked the audience and on his motion a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding at the meeting was carried. DON’T TAKE THAT COLD HOME. Yes, take Baxters Lung Preserver. Colds spread quickly. Take commonsense precautions, covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and take “Baxters” regularly. It pays to persevere with “Baxters,” N.Z?s proved most popular remedy. - “Baxters” is pleasant, safe, and sure for all ages. If you haven’t a bottle of '“Baxters” at home, take one home without, fail. Sold everywhere. prepared by Baxters, Ltd., 602 Colombo Street, Christchurch. —5