OPTIMISM AT FAIRLIE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2077, 18 March 1922, Page 7

OPTIMISM AT FAIRLIE.

PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS. OF MATTERS BUCOLIC. (Per Press Association.) FAIRLIE, March IG. The Prime Minister arrived at Fairlie last evening and was entertained by the Mackenzie County Council at an informal dinner and aftcr- , wards addressed a public meeting. Mi Massey met with a cordial reception He dealt with matters that toucl country interests, leaving party politic: ; alone. Referring to the Meat Pool, he out lined the scheme, which, he said, hai become necessary to promote organisa ; tion to cope with exploitation. Mea , prospects had had a good effect on thr meat markets at Home. He did no claim the whole credit for the reeen rise, but quoted figures showing an in ' crease of over 50 per cent in both mut . ton and lamb since the proposals \ver< ; mooted, representing a total of lw< ■ and a-half millions sterling. Freights freezing charges and storage in Bon don'had also been reduced. He di< not think the board could gel int< operation this season, but would b< ■ ready for next season. It was not, pro posed to form a corner for exploiting the public- at Home; on the contrarj they were trying to prevent, the pro dueers here from being exploited. The board had been given very large powers, but he felt the men appointee would give a good account of 1 hemselves. Regarding the slump consequent upon the war, the Prime Minister .said the public debt in the war period had been increased by about on hundred million sterling. Civil servants had tc receive increased pay in the shape ot bonuses, which amounted to four and a-half millions; retrenchment had taken place and would take full effect in a year's time. He hoped that the last half of the bonus would not have to be taken away. In any case, the Civil Service would probably find itsell in as good a position as formerly, owing to the decrease in the cost ot living. Mr Massey then referred at. length to the wool position and predicted a further increase in price in ;i short tiiVe- The financial credit of the country was good and a loar would lie raised before the winter Money was coining down in price and he hoped to raise the loan at 5 pel cent. Touching on railway matters the Prime Minister acknowledged there was much room for improvement. He also acknowledged thai freights were too high, but money ha< to be secured. He hoped to make reductions in the. next few month: and improve the working system. He urged further development, in the country, and instanced forestry as one line that should be pushed. The lane must be brought under eultivatioi and when cultivated, must be made tc produce more. Immigration shoulc be encouraged, and trie opportunity that now presented itself of gettin? the pick of the people from the Oh Country should be sei/.ed. Hydroelectricity must be fully utilised. Referring to housing. Mr Masse; said the Government scheme was no 1 a success, and Government buildinj costs were too high. The policy nov was to lend money to those who wished to build am every head of the household should be encouraged to become his own landlord. Dealing with taxation. the speaker stated that it was too high: this was one of the causes of unemployment and he wished to reduce taxation as well as railway charges as soon as possible'. He justified the rebate: on land and income tax. and pronounced it a distinct success, The speaker referred to Imperial matters and advocated continuity of conference and the right of representatives of various portions of tin- Empire to ' l seat in the Council of the State at more freejuent intervals. Mr. Massey, the report concludes, spoke for two hours.