WHEAT COMMITTEE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 August 1929, Page 9

WHEAT COMMITTEE.

A AIEAIBER’S CRITICISM. AIR SPEAKER INTERVENES. (By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. In venturing on a criticism of the Government’s intentions in setting up a select committee to report on the wheat duties, Air H. AI. Rushworth (Bay of Islands) used expressions which Air Speaker asked him to withdraw. He declared it was freely rumoured that- the Government had done a deal with the wheat-growers. This was freely rumoured at the Farmers’ Union Conference, and when the member for Egmont had quite reasonably suggested that the select committee be increased by four North Island members the Minister of Lands did not dare to take the risk of accepting that suggestion. “I am satisfied,” continued Air Rushworth. “that the decision of that committee, if not already written, is agreed upon, and the finding of that committee is already discredited.” The Hon. G. W. Forbes- (Minister of Lands) raised a point of order as to whether the speaker was justified in saying that the verdict had beensettled. The committee, he pointed out. had not met. Air H. G. Dickie (Patea): “The dice seem to l>e loaded.” Air Speaker held that references to the committee being already discredited were a reflection which must- l>e withdrawn, and the member for the Bay of Islands complied. He made no further reference- to the subject.