MEAT TRUSTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 October 1924, Page 5

MEAT TRUSTS

MR, LYSNAR. EXPLODES. AT NAIVE SUGGESTION. OPPOSITION DELIGHTED. (By Telegraph.— Special to the Star.) Tl , WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. her L, P p- n . lSed crlfclclsm by the ffiernne,le^ r i G, f°i lie -f P he Go ™rnment’s neglect to deal with trusts in the meat ilm U V ir + u OOI a, . ilve, y tu ' r « when, in the last five minutes of his speech, Mi. Lysnar delighted the supporters by declaring that the time nad arrived for a change of administration, and that a new party should be formed representative of the nro fibS. e,ements of “Hie leaders of-both sides should stand aside for that to be done. I would cheerfully assist in that direction,” lie added. Mr. Lysnar, continuing, said that it was not advisable to go to the country at present, there being sufficient progressive members in both parties to enable the formation of a new party that would put forward the progressne legislation being demanded’ all over the Dominion. the^BilU Pea^ei " 4re y° u discussing Mr. Lysnar: J ani discussing the results of what took place, but I do urge the two leaders to. stand aside. 1 say, he concluded, “that the-time has arrived for the Prime Minister, if he can see his way to do so, to make the statement to the House that he made before; namely, that lie was prepared to stand aside.’ In . that way the two parties could act together/? ‘'After the way the member for Gisborne was treated, I , :am’surprised at his moderation,” declared Mi* Bell (Bay of Islands); “I feel" he* was .bludgeoned on the political wheel, 'and for a- man who spent fifteen years of his life on behalf of the producers lie had no right to be treated. in that way.” Mr. Bell added that whether the Premier liked it or not he felt that meat trusts were operating in; Auckland and Hawke’s Bay, and producers were feeling the effects. There was no reason to believe that the brains of the country were all in the Ministiy. Hiere were members of farmers’ organisations./ .who had been ■ studying this question for years. Hie history of political parties was, that after 10 or 15 years tliev got into the hands of big financial institutions. .He did not wish to see a change of Government, but it would have to give way unless it took a. solid stand on the question of protecting producers from trusts. ■■■ A Labour member: ; That-s the talk. You help us. , Hon. McLeod (Minister of Land®), declared that the Government’ throughout its career discouraged trusts, and to-day there was not one more trust or trust opera.ted works than- existed when the Meat Board was inaugurated. The member fort Gisborne bad whittled his attack down to a question affecting his own company’s dealings with Vesteys. There might have to be a careful investigation of the whole of this transaction. Mr. Lysnar; I am quite willing. Hon. McLeod : It will not be a question of willingness. Hie bon; gentleman may have-to face "that'inquiry. The complaints investigated in. the past have been in connection witii the American trust, known as the Big Five, and the question will be asked of the member for Gisborne whether he can keep his hands clean so far as the American Big Five is concerned. * * Mr. Lysnar : My hands are clean. Hon. McLeod went on to declare that the whole history of Mr. Lysnar’s alleged efforts to help the producers had left a trail of disaster. Mr.- Lysnar: Through the Government. Hon. McLeod retorted with a reminder of Mr. Lv.snar’s efforts to prevent the wool growers selling their wool under an honourable agreement approved by 90 per cent, of them. If be wished to know where he stood with the producers Mr. Lysnar should go _ back to Gisborne and hand in his resignation. Mr. Monteith: Another Labour member for us. Mr. Holland: Are you taking this as a motion of no, confidence ? Mr. Massey (emphatically):' That’s my job. . Mr. Holland: I only want to know. Mr. Massey: The hon. member may get his answer sooner than he wants. Hon. Nos worthy protested that Mr. Lysnar had threatened him and the Government, but he preferred a, Government that went out with dignity and honour than one forced to submit to his threats or any other member’s threats. The Government did not have much of a majority, but it was not. going to do the bidding of members who wished to push their own barorws against the interests of taxpayers. Incidentally the Minister referred to the new Fanners’ Party that believed the Government had done nothing for the producers, and he promised them an opportunity to size up the men who were really, humbugging and trying to mislead them. If the decision of the House was against the Government he would rather take defeat than depend.on Mr. Lysnar’s vote, after the way he had treated Mr. Massey, himself, and other members of the Cabinet.