Labour Branches Debate

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 2

Labour Branches Debate

THE GUARANTEED PRICE A team from the Pahiatua branch of the New Zealand Labour Party travelled to Eketahuna on Saturday evening to debate against a team from that branch. The subject was: “That the guaranteed price is detrimental to the best interests of the farming community 0 and the teams were.—Pahiatua: Messrs. D. R. Salter (leader), Sefton Walsh and J. P. Hogan. Eketahuna: Messrs. G. A. Hansen (leader), W. Brown and A. Rowden. Eketahuna took the affirmative and Pahiatua the negative. The affirmative side argued that the guaranteed price was not sufficient, costs were too high and land was going out of production; also the guaranteed price removed the incentive to increase production. The negative put forward the views that the guaranteed price gave stability, a true index of value, decreased and eliminated land speculation and inflation and was a step forward in economic and national planning. Summing up, Mr. J. W. Sturton, of Pahiatua, who judged, said that the standard of the debate had been high and the debate most interesting. The affirmative had had a very difficult case to defend but had made a good job of it. The negative side had had a great deal of matter and had co-ordin-ated it well, and had scored a convincing win. Mr. J. Robertson, M.P., who spoke later in the evening, said he had enjoyed the debate very much. Mr. Hogan, in particular, had made an excellent speech, full of good matter. Such functons, the speaker said, were a big factor in educating people politically. Ho hoped that they could be made a fixture each month. Tho evening concluded with vocal items given by Mrs. Fox and Mr. Hogan, and community singing. Mr. Hansen thanked the team and the large number of supporters for their attendance. Mr. G. Ancell, president of the Pahiatua branch, thanked members for their hospitality and hoped to see them next month at Pahiatua in a return debate. The meeting concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.