Politics And Dairy Produce

Northern Advocate, 29 August 1938, Page 4

Politics And Dairy Produce

“With an election coming oW the Government could not face the electors with £1.000,000 of farmers' money in its hands, 'and so it handed this back to the people who were entitled to it,” declared Mr C. A. Wilkinson. M.P. for Egmont. during his address at Maungatapere on Saturday night, when discussing the guaranteed price scheme.

“Had it been any other year a different story might have been told." he added. "The Government's action in taking by compulsion, property produced or owned by individuals at a price to be determined by the taker is repugnant to those who prefer liberty of action. The Parliament of this country is taking men's property without right of appeal. In 1935. although the Labour Party declared that a guaranteed price scheme would be established, it was never contemplated that they would seize the

i product, and pay what they chose, ! Vet this is what has been done, j "If dairying is such a sound pru- . position as the Government would i make out, how does it account for the i decreasing butter and cheese outputs due to farmers changing over | from dairying to shcepfarming?" ; asked Mr Wilkinson.