Bay Farmers Approve Socialism, Says Mr. Boswell

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1939, Page 8

Bay Farmers Approve Socialism, Says Mr. Boswell

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] WELLINGTON, This Day. Mr. C. W. Boswell, M.P. for Bay of Islands, made his maiden speech in the House of Representatives last night, when lie seconded the Ad dr css-in-Roply. Ho spoke for an hour and a. half, dealing mainly with, matters concerning farmers and problems associated with his own electorate.

The Brains of the Country “The Bay of Islands farmers are the brains of the country, and at the end of the election campaign they voted for Socialism,” Mr. Boswell said. They knew that Socialism would mean to them just what they had been having for years past, exemplified to perfection in their own co-operative dairy factories. They owned them managed them, and get the profits from them. Guaranteed Price Clause The deciding factor at the last election, as far as his district was concerned, was the guaranteed price. The farmers wanted only what every i Socialist wanted —the value of their i production—and they were satisfied | that they could not have any better j scheme than the guaranteed price. (

Gum producers had been struggling in the swamps of the North for years, and a few years ago they were getting 9/- per cwt. for gum. The Government had arranged for a minimum price, and today these people could live. Mr. Boswell hoped that the Government would give more assistance, because there were still acres of land with gum worth £IOOO an acre. Mr. Boswell said that woolgrowers in the North had been experiencing fluctuating prices and were about tired of it. The sheepfarmers were a: king for a guaranteed price, and he hoped they would get it. Potentialities of Northland Discussing other aspects of the North. Mr. Boswell said that Northland was the cradle of “this nation of ours." He extolled the potentialities of Northland, and emphasised the need for it receiving a due share of the expenditure on essential services. He appealed to the Public Works Department for better reading for various northern centres. He said that Mr. Scmp’io had done more than any of his predecessors for the reading of the North, and also in respect of the electric power reticulation. “We have been left behind for years, and wc do not want to bo left behind any more.” lie said. “I shall never rest until every settler in my electorate has a metalled road to bis gate.” , !