Seemed Like Making it Laughing Stock

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 95, 22 April 1941, Page 4

Seemed Like Making it Laughing Stock

Economic Stabilisation Conference Ignored CAUSTIC COMMENT BY FARMERS’ PRESIDED 1 Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April lx. “The Ecouomic stabilisation Conference which gave a unanimous report to the Government last year represented 90 per cent, of the people of the Dominion and it seems like making the thing a laughing stock wheu the Government waits for several months until the Labour Party Conference, representing perhaps 30 per cent, of the people, decides to act,” said Mr. W. W. Mulbolland (president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union; in an interview to-night. Mr. Mulhollaud represented the Farmers’ Union at the stabilisation Conference. The suggestion of the Prime Minister that another conference of representative interests might be called formed the subject of a question to Mr. Mulholland and he was asked if he thoug.it another economic conference was necessary. “If it were given the job of taking specific action it could go into detail, but 1 cannot for a moment visualise the Government surrendering its powers to the extent of doing that, and I do' not think it right that it should,” Mr. Mulhollaud replied.

Earlier Mr. Mulholiand said there was need lor everybody to study the economic situation but there was no good in calling a conference unless it had power to act. He was afraid that the conference xxqw proposed by the Prime Minister would be a repetition of the Economic btabilisation Conference. Borne findings would be brought down, the Government would ten me representatives what good boys they had been, the delegates would go home, and that would be tho end of il. ‘ 4 There arc some real things happening and you cannot meet difficulties that way,’* Mr. Mulholiand said, *'i think that the real tackling of our economic problems is budly needed, but there is no good in assembling a number of persons who are busy enough as it is just to yarn about stabilisation. Any conference must be given some powers or it must be definite that the Government is going to accept the recommendations. ’ ’ From members on both sides of tho House —Labour and Opposition—he had heard, Mr. Mulholiand added, expressions of disappointment that the Government had not acted on the recommendations of the Economic Btabiiisation Committee.